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Israel offers solar energy expertise

— Photo: R. Ragu

Orna Sagiv, Consul-General, Israel.

CHENNAI: Electricity consumption could be reduced by using solar energy for some domestic processes like heating water, and Tel Aviv would help New Delhi with its expertise in solar energy technology, Israel’s Consul-General Orna Sagiv said here on Monday.

Speaking to The Hindu, Ms. Sagiv said Israeli industries were looking forward to investing in solar energy technology and other sources of alternative energy in India, particularly in the south. Some industrial units had already started interaction with Indian companies.

The Israeli government was also keen on developing trade ties with India, she said. “Bilateral trade was valued at $3.3 billion in the last year, and this is set to grow significantly in the coming years.”

Israel had nominated India as one of the preferred trade partners for 2009, and delegations from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour would visit India to firm up ties.

Partnerships in agro-technology and water technology would also be concluded, with key Indian delegates invited to Agritech, a major exhibition on agricultural technology, to be held in May 2009. A delegation from Tamil Nadu and other States would also be invited.

Similarly Watech, a water technology exhibition, would be held the same year. Israel reused up to 75 per cent of its water, and had the largest desalination plant in the world. Already, it had come forward to help in setting up desalination plants at Minjur, near Chennai, and more joint ventures could come up in the future, Ms. Sagiv said.

To explore possibilities of cooperation in Tamil Nadu, Ben Gurion University had signed an agreement with Karunya University for collaborative research.

Beyond trade ties, Ms. Sagiv said, Israel and India could also come closer culturally. Israeli families were moving to India on the strength of trade cooperation. Nearly 25 families were settled in Bangalore and more were moving in because of the favourable political and economic conditions.

The Israeli film festival in Chennai, which started on Monday, was another reflection of the increasing cultural interaction. She said many Israeli movies were particularly suited to the Indian context as they included songs, dances and lots of fun.

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