"Israel in India" Facebook page. Photo: Facebook.

In August of 2010, the Israeli Embassy in India launched its very first Facebook page, one year after the two countries reported $4.1 billion in bilateral trade.  Since that time, only the United States and the United Kingdom have more Facebook fans inside India, than Israel.

“Two decades after India and Israel established full diplomatic relations, ties between the two nations are extending far beyond traditional diplomacy,” David Goldfarb, an Israeli spokeman located in New Delhi said.   “Less than two years after the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi launched its activity on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other virtual platforms, Israel managed to gain exceptional popularity in the Indian social media arena.”

Speaking about the Facebook page and a website dedicated to the Israeli embassy’s activities inside the world’s second most populated country, Goldfarb noted the strong ties between India, which has over 1.2 billion residents, and Israel, which sports a relatively meager 7.8 million, in business, education, and tourism.

“Thousands have visited the new website, as well as the Israel in India Facebook page, to learn about Indo-Israel agriculture cooperation, economic and business ties, various Israeli cultural events taking place across India, education opportunities, tourism information and more,” he said.

The two governments continue to work on enhanced trade agreements and even collaborated on space related research, to help India launch a satellite in 2009.  As Alon Ushpiz, Israel’s Ambassador to India notes, the social media interaction is indicative of the strengthening ties between the two nations.

“They mirror the warmth and friendship that we Israelis feel across India, and they are yet another indication of the immense potential that lies in our relationship,” he said.

"Israel in India" Facebook page. Photo: Facebook.