India, Israel Plan Two-Phase Implementation of Proposed FTA

India and Israel are considering implementing their proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in two phases to provide early benefits to the trade community, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said. Following the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR), negotiations will focus first on low-hanging opportunities like market access, customs simplification, and investment facilitation, while sensitive issues remain untouched. Goyal is leading a 60-member delegation to Israel to explore bilateral trade, joint R&D projects, and opportunities such as India’s participation in Israel’s $50 billion Tel Aviv metro project.