Israeli President to visit India

New Delhi: Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will visit India from November 14 to 21 at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee, it was announced on Wednesday.

This follows the visit of Mukherjee to Israel in October last year, the first ever presidential visit from India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral discussions with Rivlin on November 15 and President Mukherjee will host a banquet in his honour.

Vice President Hamid Ansari and External Affairs Sushma Swaraj will also call on the Israeli leader.

Sushma Swaraj visited Israel in January this year.

According to the External Affairs Ministry, President Rivlin is expected to meet business leaders of both India and Israel during his visit.

He will also visit the Centre of Excellence in Agriculture in Karnal in Haryana and will take part in Agro Tech 2016 organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry in Chandigarh.

"India and Israel enjoy excellent relations marked by strong ties in the areas of economy and commerce, science and technology, research and innovation, culture and tourism, education etc," the ministry said.

"Rivlin's visit is an important event which signifies the growing and sustainable relations between our two countries," Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon said.

"It is part of a historical process, and the next chapter is enhancing cooperation on agriculture, water and education; from defence and security to food security," he added.

According to the embassy, Rivlin will head business and academic delegations including 15 heads of Israeli universities as well as companies, some of which are active and successful in India.

"The visit will focus on strengthening the ever growing economic ties between India and Israel in agriculture and water, and promoting academic cooperation pursuing the MoU signed by President Mukherjee in Israel in 2015," it stated.

Rivlin will also visit the Taj Mahal in Agra and the adjacent Israeli water treatment plant "Aqwise".

This will be the first Israeli Presidential visit to India in nearly 20 years since Ezer Weizman came in January 1997.