JOIN USAmbassador of Israel to India Daniel Carmon on Thursday inaugurated the new swanky office of the Consulate General of Israel in the city. The inauguration ceremony showcased Israeli, Jewish and Indian traditions, with lighting of traditional lamp and breaking bread and sharing it with all those present.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Carmon said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was setting the priorities, bringing in reforms and that Israel was closely following it so that the two countries could mutually benefit in more areas.
Noting that defence ties between the two countries had always been good, Carmon - on his third visit this year to the city - said that Israel had very important relations with various state governments in India, as much of its activities and projects are spread across all states.
Speaking after inaugurating the office, Carmon said that the consulate was not just a symbol of cordial relations between the two countries, but a manifestation of progress India and Israel had made over the years. “The consulate is the answer for a growing need on both sides to create more channels into South India. This consulate will cater to Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala,” he said.
He said, “The states of South India are very unique and require a dedicated Israeli consulate to develop our commercial, academic and cultural relations. It is necessary to increase cooperation in the fields of agriculture, development, education, healthcare and between people, which is the objective of the consulate.”
Dov Segev Steinberg, the acting consul general in Bengaluru, said that efforts were on to woo delegations from both the government and private sectors to participate in WATEC, considered the largest water technologies exhibition in the world and scheduled to take place in Tel Aviv from October 13-15.
Steinberg said that the consulate in the city had issued more than 1,000 visas since July 2014. “It has helped set up five horticulture centres of excellence in South India.”