Jerusalem, 16 September, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Indian Ambassador to Israel J.P. Singh on Tuesday described Israel as the “startup nation” and India as the “scale-up nation,” urging the two countries to combine their strengths to build deeper economic and strategic ties. Speaking at the Jerusalem Post Diplomats Conference in Jerusalem, Singh highlighted the promise of collaboration and called for formal agreements that could unlock wide-ranging opportunities.
Singh, who arrived in Israel about six months ago, said his posting began with what he called a “12-day crash course on conflict.” Despite that, he said he quickly came to admire Israeli society and saw the potential for expanding cooperation. “You are like the ‘startup nation,’ and we are the ‘scale-up nation,’ and we need to combine the two,” he told the gathering.
The ambassador’s remarks came as the European Commission announced earlier in the day that it would move to impose partial economic sanctions on Israel.
Without mentioning the EU by name, Singh encouraged Israel to look beyond its traditional partners in the West and broaden its horizons toward Asia.
“I think it’s time for you to start moving eastward… When you go eastward, you will find India,” he said. His remarks underscored New Delhi’s efforts to position itself as a central partner for Israel in both regional and global economic networks.
Singh argued that while Israel excels in innovation and cutting-edge technology, India can provide a large and skilled workforce as well as a competitive platform for mass production. “Israeli companies can set up factories or centers in India, and it will probably be cheaper to produce the same product, or even better,” Singh said. “We have a skilled workforce… You are making a lot of noise for a small country,” he added with a smile.
To lay the foundation for such collaboration, Singh urged the advancement of what he called “basic agreements.” He pointed to the recently signed bilateral investment agreement (BIA) between the two countries as an important first step. Work is also underway on a free trade agreement and additional financial protocols, he said, which could create a more robust infrastructure for joint ventures.
The BIA is part of a wider strategy by India to expand bilateral investment treaties with key partners such as the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan. Israeli officials described the move as historic, with the potential to strengthen trade, technology exchange, and investment flows. Analysts said the agreement could help both countries navigate supply chain disruptions, leverage India’s vast domestic market, and capitalize on Israel’s technological expertise.
The accord, they noted, formalizes protections for investors and provides a clearer legal framework, boosting confidence for long-term cooperation between the two nations.
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