Guwahati: Ambassador Eynat Shlein, Director of MASHAV-Agency Israel's for International Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, visited India to strengthen the Israel-India strategic relationship and development cooperation in agriculture and water.

"India is a major, strategic partner of Israel," Shlein stated. Cooperation in agriculture and water, which was the emphasis of my visit to India, are the two most important cornerstones of our expanding relationship.  She continued, "We are eager to maintain and grow our collaboration with all of our Indian partners as we work to strengthen our strategic engagement.

We currently have 29 fully operational Indo-Israeli Centers of Excellence in various regions of India that serve millions of Indian farmers on a daily basis. Thirteen additional comparable facilities are in the works. These centres will be gradually developed into Villages of Excellence in collaboration with local state governments, which will benefit bigger populations."

Shlein visited Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, meeting with top government officials, and local farmers, and visiting the Indo-Israeli Centers of Excellence created under the Indo-Israel Agricultural Project (IIAP).

An extensive discussion about enhancing the existing cooperation and future joint projects in water management and agriculture was held in a bilateral meeting between Shlein and UP CM, Yogi Adityanath.

The signing of a joint declaration between Israel and the Irrigation and Water Resources Department of Haryana in the field of integrated water resource management and capacity building was one of the key highlights of this visit. MASHAV will exchange expertise, capacity building, and Israeli technology as part of this joint declaration for Haryana's progress in the water management sector.

Shlein also met with key authorities from the Government of Rajasthan's Department of Agriculture and Horticulture during his visit. In Delhi, Ambassador Shlein held discussions with Economic Relations officials at the Ministry of External Affairs about continuing dialogues between both nations on development cooperation.