India, Israel FTA: Next round of talks in May

India and Israel are set to advance negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with the next round scheduled for May 2026 in Israel, as announced by the commerce and industry ministry. This development follows the first round of talks held in New Delhi from February 23 to 26, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel. The discussions encompassed a variety of critical areas including trade in goods and services, intellectual property rights, and digital trade, among others. Both nations expressed a commitment to finalize a comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement that would unlock significant trade potential, which currently stands at $3.62 billion in bilateral merchandise trade for FY25. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized the importance of collaboration in maximizing opportunities across sectors like machinery, textiles, and advanced technologies. This renewed endeavor comes after a previous series of eight negotiation rounds that stalled in October 2021, indicating a revived interest in enhancing economic ties between the two countries.