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Prime Minister Ariel Sharons Speech at the Israeli-Indian Business Conference in New Delhi. |
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| 10/09/2003 |
Shalom to all of you.
Mr. Jaswant Singh, Minister of Finance
Mr. Joseph Lapid, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice from Israel
Mr. Israel Katz, Minister of Agriculture
Mr. Anand Mahindra, President of the Confederation of the Indian Industry,
Mr. Modi, Vice President of the Confederation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Ambassador of India to Israel
Israeli Ambassador to India
Mr. Avigdor Itzchaki, Director General of the Prime Ministers Office
Mr. Amos Yaron, Director General of the Ministry of Defense
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to greet all of you who arrived at this joint gathering of Indian and Israeli business-people.
I consider this meeting between business-people to be very important, and hope that this gathering will bear fruit and bring about better and stronger business ties between our countries.
I am in the midst of an extended and productive visit, during which I met with the political and economic leadership of India, and have had a small taste too small a taste of the human and historic landscape. It was very short from the beginning, and it became shorter. We had to cancel this time our visit to Mumbai due to the current terror events in Israel. I had to go back today, but at least I am happy that there are many things I would like to see here, and I am sure that I will be here again, and then well be visiting Bombay, as other places in this a beautiful, great country.
Since the renewal of our relations, 11 years ago, our countries have forged close, warm contacts. I see my visit to this grand and impressive country, which is the first visit to India of an Israeli Prime Minister in office, as the climax of our relations. It is my hope that following this visit, we will continue to develop our relations, and thereby contribute greatly to both Israel and India.
Both our nations have ancient cultures and legacies which had a great impact on the development of civilization in the entire world. Both our countries gained independence towards the second half of the 20th century, and chose to base their national sovereignty on the principles of freedom and democracy. If we take all the area from India across the Middle East, I think we are the only two democracies that exist here. If Israel were surrounded by democracies, I believe that we could have taken more risks, but we are the only ones there in our part of the world.
I am confident in the enormous potential for cooperation between our countries toward prosperity, and for the benefit of the entire human race.
During my visit here we decided to launch an Israeli space telescope on an Indian satellite. It is symbolic that two nations which are so deeply rooted in history are working together in fields which will help ensure a better future for us all.
During my meetings here, we discussed a wide variety of topics strengthening our bilateral relations in various fields and the advancement of regional and global causes.
Yesterday we signed a series of agreements between our countries, in order to improve and cement our ties, and increase cooperation between our peoples.
I was happy to hear from Prime Minister Vajpayee that he too attaches great importance to promoting the values of freedom and democracy around the world, and that he also sees terror as a serious threat, which requires a determined and uncompromising battle by the entire international community. Terror is the enemy of freedom and democracy. Israel and India, as countries who believe in these values, will, together with any other ally, combat this evil. Only a relentless struggle against terror will ensure a better future a future of peace and prosperity for ourselves, our children, and generations to come.
Israel is a peace-seeking country. Despite the repeated attacks against us, we have not lost the hope of living in peace with our neighbors. As a matter of fact, Israel has been facing the threat of terror for over 120 years. It didn’t start now. I have already stated that for genuine, durable, real peace, we will be willing to make painful compromises. But we will never compromise on the security of the citizens of Israel. It is my intention to make every effort to reach an agreement which will ensure security and stability, and will hopefully lead to peace in our region in the near future. But that, of course, depends upon the situation in the region. We cannot move forward in the political process unless there is full cessation of terror, hostilities and incitement.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I firmly believe in relations between peoples, not only between leaders. My meetings here with Indian leaders are of great importance. However, the developing relations between our peoples are no less important. Therefore, when I was invited to India by Prime Minister Vajpayee, I decided to bring with me a delegation of the most senior and successful business-people in Israel, and also a delegation of representatives of Israels culture. The intention is that they use this visit for direct contact with their Indian hosts, get to know them and establish business and cultural ties between our countries.
Israel does not have natural resources. We have no gold, no oil, and no diamonds. There is, however, one resource which Israel is blessed with a resource which we have always nurtured and developed. This priceless resource, our greatest natural resource, is our human capital.
Although today Israel is mainly recognized around the world for its ongoing struggle for security, thanks to our wonderful people, we are also known throughout the world for the things we take pride in, such as the fact that we are the country which has the largest number of patents per capita, or as the country where the percentage of national investment in research and development from the GDP is the highest in the world. Israel has more engineers per capita than any other country in the world. We have a double number of engineers per capita in Israel, in comparison with the United States.
Thanks to the citizens of Israel we have succeeded, during the past fifty-five years, in reaching the cutting edge of the high-tech and scientific industries in the global markets. The signing of free trade agreements with the major economies in the world allows investment and trade to flourish. Israel has global leaders in scientific and medical research, computer and electronic technologies, bio-technology, agro-technology, and many other fields and in the future nano-technology. Many foreign universities and research companies have found Israel to be a natural partner in joint projects. We have creative methods of agriculture which have successfully coped with the harsh climate and environment of the Middle East. We decided to begin negotiations on the establishment of an additional joint agricultural farm in India, which will deepen our relations in this field and further improve the agricultural capabilities of Indian farmers.
I attach great significance to Israeli-Indian cooperation in these fields. Being at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, Israeli companies are always ready to answer global needs. In todays world of global markets and the electronic communications revolution, the geographical distance is no longer an obstacle to increasing trade between our countries. We are interested in advancing Indian projects, and would like Indian companies to expand their activities and invest in taking part in the privatization process which the Israeli economy is currently undergoing. I believe in reciprocity. We want to learn, and we believe that we can learn everywhere, we can learn many things here, and we are willing to share our know-how. We are ready to help and would like to be helped. I believe that relations should be based upon reciprocity.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you know, politicians are not great business-people. If they were great business-people, I am sure they would not be in politics. They would not waste their time. So I will leave you to do what we believe you do best business. I am convinced that the personal ties which will be forged at this gathering, will lead to further meetings and visits between both countries, and to the strengthening of business ties between India and Israel.
We, the politicians, on our part, will do everything in our power to create fertile ground for business-people to cooperate with their counterparts, and provide better and more attractive conditions for realizing the tremendous potential of the relations between Israel and India.
I wish you a productive and interesting gathering, and hope to see you visiting Israel soon. I can assure you that you will be coming to a very friendly country. Its not only that the government and myself want to establish and strengthen and deepen our relations. I believe that there is great sympathy in Israel to India. I think one of the signs is that at the present time, we have 30,000 young Israelis visiting India.
I felt the friendship here in the last two days, I could not have expected a better or more beautiful reception than I had, and I invited the Prime Minister to visit Israel. I know one thing it will be very hard for us to reciprocate the most beautiful meetings and friendly atmosphere.
Again, I would like to thank the Prime Minister and the members of his cabinet, and everyone that we met with.
Thank you again, thank you so much.
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