Modi is likely to address a session with Israeli CEOs to attract investments into India, the first such Indo-Israeli exercise. India expects to host the Saudi monarch and Jordan’s king later this year as well as the Iranian president in the future.Strategic affairs analysts pointed out that most leaders from West Asia and North Africa are increasingly undertaking standalone trips to India, excluding Pakistan. The de-hyphenation comes in the backdrop of India’s growing economic profile and growing threats from terror groups.Besides, during the past one and a half years, the vice president has visited some of the North African countries and ministers from the Gulf and Iran have been regular visitors to India since 2015. Last year India and Palestine also held their first ever joint commission to identify specific areas of cooperation.Significantly, India’s ties with Israel expanded simultaneously with expansion of its partnership with the Arab World during the past two decades. And during his trip to Israel, Modi and the leadership there are expected to discuss the issue of negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis for a lasting solution to their protracted crisis.

Source: Economic Times June 13, 2017 18:56 UTC