Mangaluru: Consul General of Israel in Bengaluru, Orli Weitzman, on Thursday underlined the importance of building a strong and sustainable foundation for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) collaboration between Mangaluru and Israel. Interacting with over 40 entrepreneurs and industry representatives, she expressed keen interest in expanding trade engagement between the coastal Karnataka region and Israel during a round-table discussion organised by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
The interaction took place at a round-table discussion titled “West Coast India to West Asia – Charting a Mangaluru–Israel Trade Roadmap”, organised by KCCI at its hall. The event brought together exporters, startup founders, policymakers and representatives of trade bodies to explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation across traditional industries and advanced technology-driven sectors.
Focus on trade and technology collaboration
Addressing the gathering, Ms. Weitzman said her mandate was to lay the groundwork for deeper economic ties between India and Israel, with a particular focus on regional trade hubs such as Mangaluru. She noted that while trade relations between the two countries had shown steady growth over the years, there was still significant untapped potential at the regional and city level.
She highlighted Israel’s strengths as a global startup and technology hub, particularly in sectors such as agri-tech, water management, cybersecurity and innovation-led enterprises. At the same time, she acknowledged India’s ability to scale up innovations and commercialise technology efficiently, describing the two economies as highly complementary.
During the interaction, exporters dealing in areca plate products, coffee and other agri-based commodities shared their experiences and expectations from international markets. Ms. Weitzman said Israel was keen to engage with entrepreneurs from coastal Karnataka and explore partnerships that could add value to both markets.
Opportunities across traditional and emerging sectors
South Kanara Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta highlighted the scope for collaboration across both conventional and advanced sectors. He identified dairy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, cocoa and coffee as areas with strong potential for bilateral engagement.
He also drew attention to Israel’s expertise in advanced technologies such as desalination, drip irrigation and precision farming. These solutions, he said, could help India address challenges related to water scarcity, agricultural productivity and climate change, while opening up new business opportunities for technology providers.
Emphasising the strategic alignment between the two countries, Captain Chowta said Israel’s innovation-driven ecosystem combined with India’s strength in scaling and manufacturing could lead to globally competitive solutions. He encouraged industry stakeholders to explore joint ventures, technology transfers and collaborative research initiatives.
KCCI members keen on wider engagement
KCCI President P B Ahmed Mudassar said members of the chamber were keen to explore collaboration opportunities with Israeli companies across multiple sectors. These include petrochemicals, agri-tech, agri-commodities, start-ups, fisheries, information technology and biotechnology.
He said the city’s strategic location on the west coast, port connectivity and growing industrial base made it a natural gateway for trade between India and West Asia. The availability of skilled manpower and the presence of reputed educational institutions further strengthened its case as an emerging business and innovation hub.
KCCI representatives stressed the importance of structured engagement such as trade delegations, buyer-seller meets and institutional partnerships to ensure that discussions translate into concrete outcomes.
Cybersecurity and education emerge as key focus areas
Cybersecurity and education were identified during the discussions as sectors with immense long-term potential. Participants proposed that the city could emerge as a hub for Israeli cybersecurity companies, including the establishment of data centres and Global Capability Centres (GCCs).
Industry representatives said such initiatives could generate high-quality employment, strengthen digital infrastructure and position the region as a technology destination beyond traditional industries. Education partnerships between universities and research institutions from both countries were also discussed as a way to build sustained knowledge and people-to-people linkages.
MLA D Vedavyas Kamath, KCCI Honorary Secretary Ashwin Pai Maroor and Vice-President Divakar Pai Kochikar were among those present at the event. They emphasised the need for continuous dialogue between government, industry and diplomatic missions to maintain momentum in bilateral engagement.
Way forward for Mangaluru–Israel trade
Concluding the session, speakers agreed that consistent follow-up, policy support and industry-led initiatives would be essential to convert interest into tangible trade and investment outcomes. The round-table discussion was seen as a significant step towards charting a clear and practical roadmap for Mangaluru–Israel economic cooperation.
With growing global focus on resilient supply chains, sustainable agriculture and digital security, stakeholders expressed optimism that partnerships between businesses in Mangaluru and Israel could deliver long-term mutual benefits.