Amazing things happen when Israel and India come together: Naftali Bennett

Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday said that amazing things happen when Indians and Israelis come together. He further expressed hope about travelling to India soon to explore future collaboration options.

"Couple of weeks ago, I met my dear friend Prime Minister Modi (Narendra Modi), and we discussed many ways that we can take Israel-India relations to the next level. Especially future technological collaboration between our countries, which can turn our great partnership into a powerhouse of innovation," Prime Minister Bennett said.

Technology not only has the power to help lives but also to save lives, said Bennett in a video message to the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS)- 2021. The video message was played at the 24th edition of the BTS. If both countries join forces and put their minds to the mission, opportunities are endless, he said.

"I always say amazing people can do amazing things. India is one of the biggest countries in the world, with one of the biggest economies in the world and vast digital expertise, and Israel is one of the leading innovation nations of the world, the startup nations. When Indians and Israelis come together, amazing things happen," he added.

The tech summit was inaugurated by Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Minister for IT & BT, Science & Technology CN Ashwath Narayan, Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani, Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw among others.

A former tech entrepreneur, Bennett said, "In my previous life, I ran a company called Cyota, and we merged with an Indian company, and we were working together in our office in Manhattan."

"The fusion of the two civilisations, the two deep cultures was remarkable, and I believe in that fusion. I believed it then, and I believe it now," he added.

He further shared the most important lessons he learned during his years in hi-tech. "The first and the most important lesson is when you found the company, the single biggest decision is not what the product is, not what the market is, not who your investors are. It's who your partners are, who you are going to do it together with, and you have to choose optimistic, smart people, can do folks, who view the actual startup as more important than their part within the startup," he said.

"The second lesson is to act, make things happen, don't pontificate too much. It's not just about innovation, it's also about entrepreneurship....so when you are not quite sure what to do, do. Practicality, pragmatism and productivity have the power to achieve technological solutions," he added.

The combination of creativity with practicality, innovation and entrepreneurship, Israeli and Indian creativity, imagination and tenacity, has the power to do amazing things, he added.