(Tablet) Jeff Moskowitz - When Narendra Modi, the head of the Hindu nationalist BJP party, is sworn in as prime minister, he will become the only Indian premier to have ever visited the Jewish state. He has close relationships with Israeli business leaders, and his victory has left many anticipating a great leap forward in Indian-Israeli relations - and with it, a billion new customers and allies. In Gujarat, the state where Modi has served as chief minister for the past 13 years, Israeli industry was not only welcomed but actively pursued. Huge tenders for a semiconductor plant, a new port, and a desalination plant were awarded to Israeli bidders. Israeli agriculture, pharmaceutical, alternative energy, and information technology companies have flourished there. Modi's campaign was based on replicating his economic success in Gujarat on a national scale, and much of that success was tied up with Israel.
2014-05-30 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive