Israeli president offers expertise in cyber, food security

New Delhi [India], Nov.18 (ANI): Pointing out that the battlefield is changing today and cyber warfare is no longer science fiction but a strategic challenge, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has offered his country's expertise to India in all these areas to make a safer world. President Rivlin was delivering a special address at the dinner organised, in honour of the visiting president, by Observer Research Foundation in association with the Embassy of Israel and the Confederation of Indian Industries on Thursday night. "There is positive and growing cooperation between our countries in many areas of defence and security. We also face a common challenge in fighting terrorism and radicalism. I am here today to affirm our commitment to the fight against global terrorism. We are here today, to carry the great potential of this partnership into reality," the president told a packed hall with diplomats, former diplomats, policy-makers and academia. The president said " Israel wants to play a part in the Four-Colours Revolution that Prime Minister Modi has set as India's national goal, that brings together the colours of the Indian flag: Saffron for solar power, Green for agriculture, White for dairy produce, and Blue for water". The president said his country has advanced solar power systems, irrigation systems, water treatment projects, and the average milk production per cow, are just a few examples. "Today's innovations are almost unimaginable ? and we now have companies working to make water out of air. We want to gather all these technologies, all the power of our Israeli innovations as our motivation today: To make in India!! To make with India!! To be your partners!!," President Rivlin told to thunderous applause. "This event is not just 'another dinner.' It is a ground-breaking gathering. I would like to thank the Confederation of Indian Industry, for hosting us tonight together with Observer Research Foundation at this special gala event," he said. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi who had said that God comes to the hungry, in the form of food, President Rivlin said he introduced his experts on agriculture, water treatment, food and environment experts who are "literally planting the seeds of tomorrow". "We already have Israeli and Indian experts, working together with local farmers, to improve Indian produce, and the lives of local families", he said. He said that Indians and Israelis are developing new kinds of cherry tomatoes (which is an Israeli invention) in Karnal. "They are already 'making in India' a future together," he remarked. President Rivlin said next year Israel and India will be marking the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Israel. "I have come here together with some of our best minds of Israeli academia, business leaders, Israeli industries, and defence industries. We are here to reaffirm our deep commitment to our shared future," he said. Welcoming President Rivlin, ORF Director Sunjoy Joshi said through the past 25 years, through the thick and thin of it all, Israel and India have enjoyed a unique relationship born at the very basics out of admiration and respect for each other. "The Israel-India partnership, has always so far been a source of reassurance for us. Common security concerns have made defence technology ties between our two nations a critical component of our bilateral relation. Needless to say these elements continue to be vital today and will remain one of the cornerstones of our future as well," he noted. "Now the new emerging realities of the world enable us to rise beyond the constraints of the last century to forge a new open, broad and robust alliance that moves beyond. Having brought this relationship out of the closet now is the opportunity to unlock it's full potential," Joshi said. Joshi said in the coming years, as the Digital Economy gathers steam and the Internet of Things take over, India and Israel are poised to be one of the early movers and shakers, the influential stakeholders. (ANI)