Delegations from 40 countries came to Israel for Agritech 2006, including 20 delegations from China, six from Mexico, five from India, and one from Vietnam
Speaking at the opening of the 16th International Agricultural Exhibition "Agritech 2006" Mr. Yechiel Assia, director general of the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute said that exports of equipment and raw materials for agriculture grew in 2005 by 16%, to $1.85 billion.
The exhibition which opened last week was described by expersts as the largest ever held in Israel.
Delegations from 40 countries came to Israel for the exhibition, including 20 delegations from China, six from Mexico, five from India, and one from Vietnam.
Trade Minister Eli Yishai, who opened the Agritech exhibition, welcomed agriculture ministers from India, Bulgaria, El Salvador, Latvia, Angola, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kenya, Macedonia, Nigeria, Turkey, South Africa and Mongolia, said that dozens of countries around the world were interested in Israel's agrotechnology industry, since Israeli companies were considered world leaders in irrigation, greenhouses, seeds and fertilizers.
Shalom Simhon Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and India’s Minister of Agriculture Sharad Pawar signed on the first day of the event an agriculture cooperation agreement .
The agreement will focus on issues including efficient use of water, the raising of livestock with an emphasis on the dairy sector, genetic enhancement and seeding, the handling of produce, greenhouses and controlled crop raising technologies
