New Delhi, April 5 (IANS): Israel is waiting for the first ever bilateral visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it will bring the country closer to India, Israeli Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel said on Tuesday.

“We are expecting Prime Minister Modi to visit Israel,” Ariel said while addressing the media after inaugurating the Israeli pavilion at the India Water Week exhibition here along with union Minister of State for Water Resources Sanwar Lal Jat.

“We are preparing for this visit. It will bring the two countries closer,” he said.

Stating that President Pranab Mukherjee already visited Israel in October last year, he said that Israeli President Reuven Rivlin would also visit India “in the near future”. 

In January this year, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also visited Israel.

Ariel, who is heading an Israeli delegation for the India Water Week that got underway on Monday, said that he was happy to be in India.

“I look forward to extending the already excellent relations between the two countries,” he said.

“The cooperation between India and Israel can set an example for the world.”

Israel is the partner country in this year's India Water Week.

Ariel said that he has discussed with union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti the possibilities of expanding the already existing collaboration between India and Israel on water management.

Israel is a world leader in water management and treatment technologies.

“The water issue is extremely important for Israel. It is a very critical subject,” the visiting minister said.

He said his country wanted to use its technology for water treatment in India for use in agriculture.

“There are Israeli and Indian companies in this exhibition. We want to help these companies to work together,” Ariel said.