India–Israel Water Mission: Industry Leaders Explore Technologies, Forge Partnerships and Unlock Business Opportunities
An Indian water-sector delegation is visiting Israel from 10 to 17 November 2026 to explore advanced technologies, strengthen industry partnerships and identify business opportunities in water and wastewater management. The visit, organised around the 12th Kinneret Conference, brings together senior representatives from India's industrial, municipal, infrastructure, engineering, consulting and technology sectors, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and potential India–Israel business collaborations.
The delegation's programme combines participation in the international conference with a series of technical visits to water treatment, desalination and wastewater reclamation facilities, innovation centres and technology companies across Israel. The initiative aims to give Indian industry stakeholders first-hand exposure to Israel's experience in water resource management, advanced treatment technologies, reuse and digital water infrastructure.
Kinneret Conference: Addressing the Future of Water Management
A key highlight of the visit was participation in the 12th Kinneret Conference, held on 11 November 2026. The conference brought together international experts, technology providers, water utilities and industry representatives to discuss emerging challenges and solutions across the water sector.
The plenary programme featured a keynote address by Mr B. Narayan Balandu, Group President – Procurement and Projects, Reliance Industries Ltd, on 'Wastewater Challenges for Industries – Global Experience and Future Outlook'. Mr Ajay Popat, Global Strategic Advisor, Ion Exchange Ltd, presented perspectives on 'From Water Stress to Water Intelligence: India–Israel Collaboration on Advanced Technologies'.
A prominent panel discussion, titled 'AI is Thirsty: Water Challenges and Solutions for the Digital Age', brought together experts from industry and technology to examine the growing role of artificial intelligence in water management. The discussion addressed the potential of digital technologies to improve operational efficiency, optimise water use and strengthen the resilience of water infrastructure.
The parallel technical sessions covered a wide spectrum of industry-relevant subjects. These included scaling water innovation in emerging markets and Africa, digital infrastructure and AI applications in water and wastewater, and wastewater and sludge treatment.
Presentations explored business and operational applications such as AI-driven process optimisation, business intelligence for water utilities, cloud-based SCADA systems, cyber-resilience, predictive monitoring of sewer networks, advanced desalination, sustainable sludge drying, industrial water reuse and sludge pyrolysis. The sessions also examined integrated wastewater treatment solutions and the use of constructed wetlands for sustainable agro-wastewater treatment.
These discussions offered insights into technologies that can help Indian utilities and industries address increasing water demand, treatment efficiency, resource recovery and regulatory compliance.
Technical Visits: Understanding Israel's Water Technology Ecosystem
Beyond the conference, the delegation's itinerary includes visits to some of Israel's important water infrastructure facilities and technology organisations.
The programme began with an innovation-focused engagement at Kinneret Academic College, where the delegation interacted with the institution's innovation ecosystem and explored opportunities to connect with emerging water-sector startups.
The visit to the Eshkol Visitor Center provided an opportunity to understand aspects of Israel's national water infrastructure and water supply systems. The delegation also visited the Ayala Water Plants project in Zippori and Elgressy's project at Haifa Port, gaining exposure to technology applications in water management and industrial environments.
The programme further includes engagement with Mekorot, Israel's national water company, to understand its experience in managing large-scale water infrastructure and developing solutions for water supply, distribution and resource management.
A major technical highlight is the scheduled visit to the Sorek 2 Desalination Plant, followed by a meeting with IDE Technologies, one of Israel's leading desalination and water treatment technology companies. The interaction is expected to provide insights into large-scale seawater desalination, membrane technologies, energy efficiency and the commercial considerations involved in developing desalination infrastructure.
The delegation is also scheduled to visit the Shafdan Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant, an important example of wastewater treatment and resource recovery. The facility offers valuable insights into the treatment and reuse of municipal wastewater, particularly relevant to Indian cities looking to expand wastewater recycling and reduce dependence on freshwater resources.
Other scheduled engagements include visits to Aquastia's facility at Kibbutz Dorot, the Menashe Wastewater Treatment Plant, a meeting with Realiteq and a visit to the Arad-Dalia facility.
Together, these visits provide an opportunity to understand how Israeli technology companies and utilities are addressing challenges relating to desalination, wastewater reclamation, industrial reuse, process optimisation, digital monitoring and efficient water infrastructure management.
B2B Meetings to Strengthen India–Israel Business Cooperation
An important commercial component of the visit is the scheduled B2B programme at the Israel Export Institute on 16 November. The meetings are intended to connect Indian industry representatives with Israeli technology companies and explore opportunities for business partnerships, technology collaborations and project-level engagement.
For Indian companies involved in water treatment, infrastructure development, engineering, industrial water management and environmental services, these interactions could open avenues for technology sourcing, joint project development, market access and long-term commercial partnerships.
The delegation will also engage with representatives of the Israel Water Authority and the Peres Center, providing opportunities to understand Israel's water-sector planning, strategic priorities and institutional approach to innovation.
With India continuing to invest in urban water infrastructure, industrial wastewater treatment, desalination, sewage treatment and water reuse, exposure to proven international technologies and business models is increasingly relevant. The visit is expected to help identify solutions that can be adapted to Indian operating conditions and market requirements.
The delegation comprises professionals representing major industrial organisations, municipal bodies, engineering companies, project consultancies, technology startups and the media.
The delegation is accompanied by representatives of the Israel Economic and Trade Mission, including Ms Noa Amsalem, Water Attaché, Israel Embassy; Mr Kiran More, Director, Economic Mission, Israel Embassy, Mumbai; and Mr Neeraj Gehlawat, Senior water resources specialist, Embassy of Israel In India
Building a Stronger India–Israel Water Partnership
The India–Israel water engagement comes at a time when both countries have significant opportunities to collaborate in addressing water security, industrial sustainability and infrastructure modernisation.
Israel's experience in desalination, wastewater recycling, precision water management, digital monitoring and technology-led water infrastructure offers several areas of relevance for the Indian market. For Indian companies, the opportunity extends beyond technology familiarisation to identifying solutions that can be localised, commercially deployed and scaled across industrial and municipal applications.
The week-long programme, concluding on 17 November, is therefore more than an international knowledge-sharing visit. It represents an opportunity to connect India's growing water infrastructure market with Israel's innovation-driven water technology ecosystem, potentially translating technical interactions into business partnerships, project collaborations and long-term industry cooperation.