India-Israel friendship
Match made in heaven
PTI
Mumbai: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday termed his countrys partnership with India as one made in heaven, which rests on shared values of love for humanity, democracy and freedom, reports PTI. Addressing the India-Israel Business Summit in Mumbai, Netanyahu mentioned the deep personal friendship he shares with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, adding that the warmth goes deeper, right up to the common man.
On the last leg of his four-day India visit, which he described as extraordinary, Netanyahu said there is a deep and abiding respect for India, its people and culture.
We are the two oldest cultures on earth. We are democracies, we share our love for freedom, and we share our love for humanity. We are truly your partners. This is a partnership made in heaven, Netanyahu said, while appealing to Indian businesses to invest in Israel.
Netanyahu said there is a similarity between how he changed the landscape in Israel after inheriting an economy with trouble on multiple fronts, and the way Prime Minister Modi is working.
When I spoke to Prime Minister Modi, I saw he was doing exactly that (what I did). He is up to the task, he understands innovation, the need to simplify, the Israel PM said.
Curtailing excessive regulations, which are barriers to competition, and empowering private enterprise, is the key for instant growth, Netanyahu said, adding that he had undertaken these steps.
The private sector does the heavy lifting in the economy and the only way to empower it is through lower, simple and easy taxes, he said.
Netanyahu said his administrations measures have ensured Isarel climbing 12 spots to be 15th on the World Banks competitive index rankings.
Countries like the US, Singapore and Switzerland, which out-rank Israel in the rankings, make him lose sleep and not the ones like Syria, Netanyahu said.
