New Delhi: India and Israel have concluded the second round of negotiations for the proposed India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with both sides reporting progress towards a balanced and comprehensive trade pact.
The four-day negotiations, held from July 20 to 23 at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi, focused on strengthening bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the discussions were held within the framework of the Terms of Reference (ToR) signed in November 2025, which guides negotiations across key areas of the proposed agreement.
During the latest round, officials discussed a wide range of issues, including trade in goods and services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property rights, customs procedures, trade facilitation and economic cooperation.
The Centre said the discussions were constructive and forward-looking, with technical experts from both countries working to narrow differences and identify areas of convergence.
Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce and India’s Chief Negotiator for the FTA, reiterated India’s commitment to concluding a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement that would further strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations.
Israel’s Chief Negotiator, Yifat Alon Perel, Senior Director for Trade Policy and Agreements and Deputy Trade Commissioner in the Ministry of Economy and Industry, welcomed the progress made since the first round of negotiations and emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum towards an ambitious trade pact.
According to official data, India-Israel merchandise trade stood at USD 3.93 billion during FY 2025-26. The government said the proposed FTA is expected to unlock new opportunities for trade, investment and deeper economic integration by leveraging the complementary strengths of both economies.
