India and Israel have concluded the second round of negotiations for the proposed India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with both sides making progress towards a balanced, comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade pact.
The four-day negotiations were held at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, from July 20 to 23, where officials from both countries held detailed discussions across multiple chapters of the proposed agreement.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the negotiations were conducted under the Terms of Reference (ToR) signed in November 2025, which provides the framework for strengthening bilateral trade, economic cooperation and the overall economic partnership between India and Israel.
During the latest round, technical experts from both sides 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 ministry said the discussions were constructive and forward-looking, with both sides engaging in detailed technical deliberations aimed at narrowing differences and identifying areas of convergence.
At the opening session, India’s Chief Negotiator and Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Ajay Bhadoo, reaffirmed India’s commitment to negotiating a balanced, comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement that would further strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties.
Israel’s Chief Negotiator, Yifat Alon Perel, Senior Director, Trade Policy and Agreements and Deputy Trade Commissioner in the Foreign Trade Administration of Israel’s Ministry of Economy and Industry, appreciated the progress made since the first round of negotiations and emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum towards an ambitious and mutually beneficial agreement.
According to official data, merchandise trade between India and Israel stood at USD 3.93 billion in FY 2025–26. The two countries share strong complementarities across several sectors, and the proposed FTA is expected to create new opportunities for expanding bilateral trade, investment and economic integration.
