Israel wants
to know about
Jewish settlements
in Goa
Israeli Consul General Mumbai David Akov says
THE GOAN Network
PANAJI: Cultural ties between Goa and Israel dating back to the Roman times will be explored in a bid to increase cultural tourism between Goa and India, Israeli Consul General Mumbai, David Akov, said.
Speaking during an interaction between members of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Akov said that tourism was a crucial area of interest, besides agriculture where Goa and Israel could work together.
"Cultural ties between Goa and Israel date back to, some say, the Roman era. Goa has a unique history of spice trade. We want to explore and share this history in order to see that there can be some kind of a tour of old Jewish settlements in Goa if they are found and restored," Akov said.
Several experts say that there were prominent Jewish settlements in Goa during the 450-year long rule of the Portuguese.
India and Israel already have long-standing ties in the field of agriculture. A delegation of agriculture officials has visited Israel on several occasions and have begun implementing Israeli farming techniques in India.
