Indian delegates met Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem following the successful culmination of the sixth Israel-India Forum, a joint endeavor of the Aspen Institute India, Tel Aviv University and the Confederation of Indian Industry.
Held in Tel Aviv, the two-day forum witnessed Indian and Israeli business leaders and policymakers discuss avenues to leverage bilateral business and political relations and boost cooperation.
In his meeting with the Indian delegates, President Peres endorsed the work of the Forum, while underscoring the "importance of continuing dialogue at all levels of humanity around the globe, because as yet, there are not enough answers to solve all the problems confronting humanity."
Reflecting on the simmering turmoil in the Middle East, President Peres said, "India could be of help in alleviating some of the tensions of the Middle East by telling the Arabs how to escape poverty. The Arabs are under the impression that foreign aid will do it, but it will not. The answer is not money. The answer is introducing Arab societies to science and technology."
Hailing India-Israel relations, Jamshyd Godrej, the chairman and managing director of Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited, and also the forum's co-chairman, asserted that the relationship between the two countries was vital in myriad ways.
"India and Israel have grown close politically and economically. And there is a robust engagement on defense issues," he said.
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Stanley Bergman-Chairman and CEO of the New York-based Henry Schein Inc. and co-chairman of the Forum-told Peres that "discussions at this year's forum focused on cyber technology, innovation, energy and bilateral trade".
The Israel-India Forum convenes annually, alternating between Israel and India, and focuses on international financial and economic trends and their impact on the economic and political relations of the two nations.
Aspen Institute India promotes values-based leadership, open dialogue and cross-sector outreach by engaging the civil society, government, private sector, and other key stakeholders on issues related to India's development. It invites industrial, economic, financial, political, social and cultural leaders to discuss these issues in settings that encourage frank and open dialogue.