India NewsletterEmbassy of India, Tel Aviv No. 53 January-February 2013

Cultural EventsCommercial EventsVisits of AmbassadorIndia Tourism - Darjeeling

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Chief of the Indian Air Staff visits Israel

The Chief of the Air Staff and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed

Forces, Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne, visited Israel from January 19-24, 2013. He was hosted by the Commander of the Israeli Air Force, Major General Amir Eshel. Air Chief Marshal Browne was received at the IDF Headquarters in

Camp Rabin by an IDF honor guard consisting of soldiers from the ground, air and naval forces. Air Chief Marshal Browne met Minister of Defense Mr. Ehud Barak, Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Benny Gantz, and with the Commander of the IsAF, Major General Amir Eshel. Air Chief Marshal Browne previously served as the first Defence Attache of India

to Israel, and is credited with setting up the Defence Wing in the Indian Embassy in 1997. The Air Chief paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy and interacted with the Officers and staff.

Chief of Air Staff meeting with Defense Minister Ehud Barak

Chief of Air Staff with Lieutenant General Benny Gantz

Wreath laying ceremony at Jerusalem Indian War Cemetery

Launching of PBC scholarships for Indian students

Indian Ambassador to Israel Jaideep Sarkar spoke at the inaugural ceremony of the Planning and

Budget Committee’s fellowships for outstanding Post-Doctoral Researchers from India and China on February 17. The fellowships were formally launched by Israeli Ministers of Education and Finance and Chairman of Planning and Budget Committee. The programme aims to provide 100 fellowships every year for 5 years to Indian and Chinese post doctoral students. In 2012-2013 out of 80 available scholarships 66 went to Indian students for this academic year to pursue post-doctoral courses

in Israeli universities and research institutes. Ambassador Sarkar also interacted with the Indian students on this occasion.

Ambassador with Israeli Ministersof Education & Finance

Ambassador addressing the convention

Ambassador Sarkar withIndian Post Doctoral fellows

Special Events

Cultural Events

To promote Indian classical dance in Israel and encourage Israeli artists who have learnt Indian classical

dance, the Embassy organized “Nayta Vedika”, a series of interactive lecture - demonstrations in February.Every Thursday evening Israeli artists presented a different style of Indian classical dance introducing the audience to its rich tradition and history. The participants also learnt a few basic steps or mudras for Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi and Bharatanatyam.

Encouraged by the response for the “Natya Vedika” event, the Embassy has started beginner’s

dance courses in Kuchipudi style(12 classes each) from March 5, 2013 for a nominal fee of NIS 50 per class. The schedule of the dance classes is below:

NATYA VEDIKA

Dance classes in the Embassy

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Since there are only few slots available, please register in advance.

More information can be found in the Embassy’s website: http://www.indembassy.co.il/Dance%20classes.htm

Dance Style Date ofcommencement

Day &Timing Instructor Telephone

KUCHIPUDI March 5 , 2013 Every Tuesday @ 1815-1915 hrs

Ms. Yael Tal 054-460 5633

BHARATANATYAM April 4, 2013 Every Thursday @ 1800-1915 hrs

Ms. Miho Kataoka 052-821-9553

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Cultural Events

Commercial Events

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Delegation from State of Karnataka visits Israel

On February 14, 2013, the Embassy in cooperation with the Israel-Asia Chamber of

Commerce organized a business seminar in Tel Aviv about “Practical Aspects of Doing Business with India” focusing on advise for companies seeking to enter the Indian market. Presentations were given about important aspects of doing business with India such as legal framework, taxation, banking, labour laws, Intellectual property rights, support from I s rae l i government for R&D cooperation with India; offset rules and regulations, and support

programs offered by MOITAL. Key n o te s p e a ke rs i n c l u d e d Ambassador Jaideep Sarkar, senior representatives from India’s Khaitan

& Co law firm, State Bank of India in Israel and senior officials from MATIMOP and MOITAL. Around 150 people attended the seminar.

An o ffi c i a l a n d b u s i n e s s delegation from the State of Karnataka led by their

Principal Secretary for Commerce and Industry and Principal Secretary for IT, Bio-tech and S&T respectively visited Israel from 24-27 February, 2013. They interacted with several Israeli companies from the high-tech, aerospace and electronics, renewable energy sectors, to seek enhanced trade and investment with India. The official delegation met senior officials in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour, and other entities to discuss cooperation in water technologies. They visited

Ramot Technology Transfer Centre in Tel Aviv University to study how innovations are developed into products for companies. The

Embassy hosted a reception during which the Karnataka delegation met senior executives from 25 leading Israeli companies.

Seminar on Practical Aspects of Doing Business with India

Delegation from Karnataka

Participants during the business seminar

Visits of Ambassador

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Ambassador Jaideep Sarkar visited Tel Aviv University on January 30, 2013. He met

with President of TAU Prof. Joseph Klafter to discuss possibilities of expanding academic co-operation between India and Israel . Ambassador vis ited RAMOT Technology Transfer Company of the University and met its CEO Shlomo Nimrodi, who presented an overview of RAMOT. Ambassador also interacted with professors of the East Asian Studies Department, which offers several courses on India to interested Israeli students, including Hindi courses. Mr. Rajesh Parihar and Mr. Eldos

Punnoose, Third Secretaries in the Indian Embassy accompanied Ambassador.

Ambassador Jaideep Sarkar vis i ted Naan Dan Ja in Irrigation on February 3,

2013. The company is a successful collaboration between the Indian company Jain Irrigation, which is a leading global company and a world leader in drip irrigation with pipe production and the Naan

Dan company of Israel. During the visit, the Ambassador interacted with trainees from India in the agricultural sector who were undergoing training organized by

MASHAV. Ambassador said that agriculture and water were priority sectors in both the Indian and Israeli economies and an area of great potential for bilateral collaboration.

Visit of Ambassador to Tel Aviv University

Ambassador visits Naan Dan Jain Irrigation

Ambassador Sarkar with TAU President Prof. Joseph Klafter

Indian Ambassador & Group of agronomists from Indian Ministry of Agriculture

Indian Ambassador & Wife planting Olive Tree Tu Beshvat at Kibbutz Naan

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Ambassador addressing the gathering

Flag hoisting

UNDOF soldiers performing

As part of the Embassy’s outreach activities, Embassy officials interacted with the students of model UN club

from St. Joseph seminary and Hr. secondary school in Nazereth. Mr. A Amarnath, Mr. Mahesh Kumar, Mr. Rajesh Parihar and Mr. Eldos Punnoose from the Embassy participated in the discussion, which centered on India, its economy, its stand on international issues.

Interaction with students from St. Joseph seminary

Republic Day 2013 Celebrations

Other Events

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India Tourism

When you arrive in Darjeeling the first thing you will notice is the truly invigorating

mountain air and the uplifting aromas of thousands of acres of tea plantations. Then you’ll open your eyes fully and all that air that you sucked in a minute ago is forced out of you by the fascinating, stunning and completely beautiful spectacle that is Darjeeling.

This quaint hill station has become a sort of sanctuary in India, away from the rubbish, dirt and crowds. It’s possible to walk for days around the tea plantations, following the little paths that wind and weave until you are under their spell completely.

One of the best things to do in this naturally blessed location is walk up Tiger Hill and see the sunrise breaking out over the Himalayas and flooding the tea fields with light. Located at nearly 2100 metres above sea level the town is very high and the thin, crisp air makes it perfect for growing tea.

It has always had an excellent reputation as one of the best hill stations in the world and for years it has provided people with peace and quiet and a great climate. Now, however, it is becoming popular for different reasons. Adventure and thrill seekers are starting to discover it for its excellent trekking, rafting and biking.

Major Attractions The town and surrounding areas were discovered by the British during their occupation of India and they soon turned into a holiday destination for the English families that lived there. The area was soon annexed as part of British India and a picturesque Victorian town was built, most of which remains today.The trekking is some of the most spectacular in the world and littered

with steep cliffs, bubbling waterfalls, exotic wildlife, a magical atmosphere and stunning surroundings.

Where to stay? You can stay in one of the many forest lodge guest houses that are in and around Darjeeling, however, you will have to get a special permit from West Bengal Forest Department. They are not hard to get hold of and probably well worth it.

How to reachDarjeeling is well connected by all modes of transport. Here are a few options for reaching Darjeeling from other places in India. (1) Take a train up to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) which is a major rail head close to Siliguri. Darjeeling is only 88kms from here. You will get ample taxis and shared jeeps from NJP to reach Darjeeling in 3.5 hours through the main highway NH-55 known as the Hill Cart Road.

(2) Few trains go through Siliguri Junction station as well. At Siliguri, you

will get plenty of shared jeeps, taxis and buses for Darjeeling. You can even take a toy train ride from either NJP or Siliguri through scenic mountain route that takes about 7.5 hrs to reach Darjeeling. The toy train track runs parallel and next to the Hill Cart Road for most part. (3) Fly down to the nearest airport Bagdogra which is 94 kms away and take a taxi or a rented car. It takes about 3.5 hours to reach Darjeeling from Bagdogra airport. (4) There are regular buses including from Kolkata (Calcutta) to Siliguri. After you reach Siliguri, you will get buses and shared or private taxis for Darjeeling. While Darjeeling is a great attraction for people from all over India and the world, bulk of the tourists come from Kolkata because of location proximity. Some trains like Darjeeling Mail offers a convenient overnight journey. There are also regular flights and buses from Kolkata.

Darjeeling

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