Developing Human Capital: Through Strategic Partnership with Israel
The economy of Israel is among the major economies of the world. Israel is the technologically advanced nation by global standards. The UN's Human Development Index report of 2015 ranked Israel among the top 20 nations in the world, it places Israel in the category of "Very Highly Developed", enabling the country to enjoy a high standard of living comparable to many Western countries such as Austria, France and Finland. The prosperity of Israel's advanced economy allows the country to have a sophisticated welfare state, a powerful modern military said to possess a lethal nuclear-weapons capacity, modern infrastructure rivalling many Western countries and China, and a high-technology sector competitively on par with the U.S.
Bilateral trade between India and Israel grew from $200 million in 1992 to $4.52 billion in 2014. The India-Israel Partnership has the potential to turn Indian Human Resource into talent. Israel – India strategic partnership can help India in its Start-up India and Digital India mission-enabling the creation of jobs and transforming our economy by developing our human resource. Israel has the expertise in developing people an area India can collaborate with Israel. It’s extremely critical for India to create opportunities for the India youth for economic growth. India can learn a great deal from Israel’s approach to education and train its youth using a combination military training, Technology and quality academic resource. Israeli Human Capability development gives emphasis on soft skills, to raise curiosity, explore and use of technology.This are areas when the India and closely work with Israeli. According to AICTE, more than 60% of the 8 lakh engineering graduates from technical institutions across the our country every year remain unemployed. Less than 1% of engineering students participate in summer internship and just 15% of engineering programmes offered over 3,200 institutions which are accredited by the NBA. According to ASSOCHAM report we have more than 5000 management institute in India and 97% of pass outs from this institute are not of employable quality. We must address the issue of quality of the teachers and management of education. The teaching methods need to change specially in schools for the kids. The poor quality of academic staff and research all ultimately adds up and hampers economic growth.
India need’s for excellence and quality in research along with the need of modern facilities and international collaborations is the gap Indian can work with Israel to bridge. In recent years a growing number of Indian scholars has opted for Israel, almost 10 per cent of foreign students in Israel are Indians. The Tel Aviv University even offers Marathi classes. The two countries need to collaborate in the fields of education of technology, agriculture, archaeology, biology, among others. India’s moving to the next level in its Human Resource endeavour can play a crucial role in the geopolitical dynamics in Asia. One of the reasons why even smaller nations like Israel have been able to build talent culture is the focus on People Development. The ability of people to contribute to the society through the use of their talents provides them with great satisfaction. The World Happiness Survey 2016 shows the nations who emphasize on People Development are doing well and Israeli is living example of this.
Indian History and Israel’s History has much in common. In one of my previous organizations that I worked for I had the privilege of interacting with Eliyahu Moshe Goldratt (March 31, 1947 – June 11, 2011) he was an Israeli business management guru , author of several business books mainly on the application of the theory of constraints to various manufacturing, engineering, and other business processes. Many such Israeli management experts and organizations have played a significant role in growing Indian Business and Developing Indian Talent. The one thing that i have personally experienced is the warmth and understanding of India most of Israelis have whom I meet. This is one added advance that India should leverage to develop people to people ties and grow Indian Human Capital.
It is said that a Arab terrorist organization once sent camel dung to the Israeli prime minister as gift to humiliate him. Netanyahu, when he got the gift, sent a return gift. It was a computer chip with a note written on it “any leader can only gift the best his people produce” - signifying the technology and People Capability power Israel is today. India by making Israel a strategic partner will pave way for its future generations to make great progress.
The two democracies have the same geo political interest and will play a vital role in shaping the world of 21st century. The planned visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to India during on January 14th to 20th, 2018, when Prime Minister will host him in his home state of Gujarat during the inauguration of i-create an innovation and business incubation institute the first of its kind in India for developing Indian talent and enterprise will be another historic moment for India and will take our relation to greater height.