Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom left for a three-day state visit to India today. He will begin by meeting with leading industrialists in Bombay, as well as with members of the local Jewish community - which numbers around 5,000. Tomorrow, Mr. Shalom is scheduled to meet with his counterpart in New Delhi, and on Wednesday, he will meet the Prime Minister and President of India. The high-level meetings reflect the close relations that Israel and India are enjoying of late in many areas. Trade between the two countries has increased to $1.5 billion.
In his meetings, Foreign Minister Shalom will discuss strengthening strategic bilateral relations and continuing cooperation in the security, political and economic arenas. Next month a joint Israeli-Indian committee will meet to discuss the global war on terrorism.