2. ON the economic and commercial front, the Embassy helped State Bank of India (SBI), Tel Aviv, organize the annual webinar to highlight major features of India's Budget 2021-22 where SBI's chief economic advisor, Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, interacted with the Israeli participants on March 1. The Embassy also facilitated another webinar by Federation of India Exporters Organization (FIEO) on March 10 where over a 100 Indian exporters interacted with Israel-Asia Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers Association of Israel and Israel Export Institute. Ambassador Sanjeev Singla visited Ashdod Port on March 9 to explore opportunities for wider cooperation, and also interacted with CEOs of Indian companies in Israel on March 17. He also met MASHAV CEO, Ambassador Eynat Shlein, on March 2 to take forward our agricultural cooperation.
3. ON the cultural side, the Embassy organized a Holi get-together at the Indian Cultural Center (ICC) in Tel Aviv on March 29 with a particular focus on younger generation of the Indian-origin Jewish community in Israel. The ICC continued online and physical classes on Indian classical music for Israeli audiences. The ICC also held online yoga classes with a certification course for Israeli nationals. As there are a large number of Marathi speaking Jews of Indian origin, the ICC held Marathi classes to cater to the young generation of Indian Jews. On March 12, the Ambassador visited the Cochini Heritage Cultural Center in Nevatim where he saw the small but lovingly kept museum on Cochini Jewish heritage and was briefed on the plans for a larger Indian Jewish Heritage Center.
4. ON the innovation front, Indian Oil launched its joint venture with an Israeli startup, Phinergy, on March 17 in the area of hybrid lithium-ion and aluminum-air batteries for e-mobility solutions and manufacture of aluminum-air systems in India. The event was addressed by India's Minister for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Steel, Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, and Israel's Minister for Energy, Dr. Yuval Steinitz. This collaboration was initiated during the visit of PM Narendra Modi to Israel in July 2017 and formalised during the visit of PM Benjamin Netanyahu to India in January 2018. Memoranda of intent were also signed between Phinergy and leading automotive equipment manufacturers Suzuki and Ashok Leyland for commercialisation of this technology after pilot operations.
5. ON consular services, the Embassy continued to take its services to people by holding consular camps at Be'er Sheva (March 5),
Eilat (March 12), Haifa (March 19) and Jerusalem (March 26). Since Covid-19 has restricted movement of people, these consular camps provided consular services to people at their doorsteps. The Embassy also facilitated approval for a special Vande Bharat Mission flight from Tel Aviv to Delhi on March 8 (that carried over 150 passengers), a flight from Delhi to Tel Aviv on March 21 (that carried over 190 passengers) and another flight from Tel Aviv to Delhi on March 22 (that carried over 195 passengers). The Embassy has so far facilitated ten Vande Bharat Mission flights that have carried over 1500 passengers.
6. INDIA continued to make steady progress in tackling Covid-19. By end-March, India had vaccinated nearly 65 million people in what is the world's largest vaccination program. In terms of total people vaccinated against Covid-19, India is now third in the world (after USA and China). In terms of daily vaccination rate, India is now second in the world (after USA) with a rate of nearly 2.2 million vaccines per day. As part of its philosophy, India also completed supply of over 64 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to 82 countries under Operation VaccineMaitri. This includes supply of over 10 million vaccines to countries in Israel's neighborhood in this region.
LASTLY as India celebrates 75 years of Independence in 2022, all Indian missions abroad would be hosting a series of events to mark this joyous occasion. Please feel free to suggest ideas on how we can celebrate 75 years of India's Independence in Israel and send your ideas to the contact given below. Wish you all happy Pesach and a joyous Easter. חג שמח
