India and Israel Elevate Ties to Special Strategic Partnership

ICEA Welcomes a New Era of Technology and Innovation Cooperation

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India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), the apex industry body representing India’s electronics and technology sector, welcomes the landmark outcomes of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s State Visit to Israel on 25–26 February 2026. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have elevated the bilateral relationship to a ‘Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation & Prosperity’, reflecting the deep trust between the two nations and the strong alignment of their economic and technological ambitions.

The visit resulted in the signing and announcement of 17 bilateral agreements, MoUs and declarations across manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, digital payments, space, agriculture, education and defence. These outcomes place technology and innovation at the centre of the partnership and align closely with India’s ambition of building a $500 billion electronics manufacturing economy by 2030–31.

The elevation of the India–Israel relationship formalises what has always been a natural alignment: Israeli innovation depth paired with Indian manufacturing scale and talent. Israel is globally recognised for its strengths in AI, semiconductor design, embedded systems, cybersecurity and advanced technologies. India has, over the past decade, transformed into the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with electronics production growing from USD 31.4 billion in 2014 to over USD 133 billion in 2024–25. Through strong policy initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive schemes and the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), India has built scale, capability and global credibility in electronics manufacturing.

The newly announced frameworks, including cooperation in Critical and Emerging Technologies, the Tech-Gateway Initiative and collaboration in Artificial Intelligence, create structured pathways for joint R&D, design partnerships, technology validation and manufacturing scale-up. Together, they create an institutional architecture of unprecedented depth and breadth for India–Israel technology collaboration. This will significantly accelerate India’s journey towards becoming a design-led, deep-tech manufacturing powerhouse.

Shri Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), said, “India and Israel are natural partners. Israel’s world-class capabilities in AI, semiconductors and deep technology complement India’s manufacturing scale and industrial ambition. The elevation to a Special Strategic Partnership provides an institutional foundation to deepen technology collaboration. ICEA is fully committed to working with industry and government to translate these frameworks into tangible outcomes that strengthen India’s electronics and technology ecosystem.”