Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh is slated to visit Israel from January 13–15, underscoring the growing strategic and economic engagement between India and Israel, an official statement said on Monday.
The minister will participate in the Second Global Summit on Blue Food Security: Sea the Future at the invitation of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Israel, Avi Dichter, the statement added. The visit is expected to further reinforce the longstanding partnership between India and Israel, strengthen collaboration in fisheries and aquaculture, and create new pathways for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
This reflects the shared commitment of both countries to deepen bilateral cooperation in the field of fisheries and aquaculture, according to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Apart from participating in the summit, Singh is also expected to hold separate bilateral meetings with his Israeli counterpart, Dichter, and ministers of other countries attending the conference.
The ministry said that discussions are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation through policy alignment and institutional partnerships, promoting sustainable fisheries management and modern aquaculture technologies, enhancing research, capacity building and innovation linkages, facilitating trade and investment through improved market access and standards, conducting joint R&D in advanced aquaculture, and advancing the blue economy agenda with emphasis on sustainability, climate resilience, and food security.
Singh is also slated to meet CEOs of major Israeli companies and startups in agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture.
The programme includes visits to key institutions and innovation hubs offering insights into Israel’s cutting-edge technological ecosystem in the field of fisheries and aquaculture.
Meanwhile, India’s seafood exports reached an all-time high of Rs 62,408 crore during 2024–25, up 3.11 per cent compared to Rs 60,523.89 crore in 2023–24, and continue to rise this fiscal year (FY26). Fish production increased to 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024–25, up from 95.79 lakh tonnes in FY 2013–14, marking a 106 per cent growth.
—IANS
