As part of a special joint-initiative, India and Israel are developing a novel coronavirus rapid testing apparatus that will be able to produce results in a mere 30 seconds.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, the Israeli mission in India announced that a special planned flight will carry a high-ranking Ministry of Defence R&D team from Tel Aviv to Delhi in the coming days. This team has been working alongside India’s chief scientist K Vijay Raghavan to develop a rapid testing kit for Covid-19.
The Israeli embassy added that mechanical ventilators will also be delivered to India by means of the same special flight. These ventilators are being exported to India owing to special permissions issued in this regard by the Government of Israel.
By opening the door to India’s market with its development and production capabilities, these Israeli technologies can be mass produced at a lower cost and could in future be jointly exported to third countries.
10/— Israel in India (@IsraelinIndia) July 23, 2020
“Since the outbreak of the global pandemic, (Israeli) PM Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have held three telephonic conversations in which they promised mutual assistance in dealing with the virus and committed to joint technological and scientific research between the countries,” the Israeli mission in India stated. It went on to say, “Merging Israeli technology with Indian development and production capabilities aims to allow a swift resumption of normal life alongside the virus.”
According to the embassy, Israeli companies chosen by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have been granted access to India to provide technology that would allow medical professionals to monitor and treat Covid-19 patients with minimum contact. “These Israeli technologies can be mass produced at a lower cost and could in future be jointly exported to third countries,” the Israeli mission in India added. The mission also stated that this initiative is reciprocal. “In the first outbreak of Covid-19 in Israel, India gave Israel special authorization to acquire medicine, masks & protective gear. Now, Israel is proud to reciprocate this significant gesture & grant authorization for purchasing of respirators to its great friend in the east.”
Israeli Ambassador to India Dr Ron Malka said, “I am proud to lead this Israeli delegation to India. It is at times like this that our friendship is tested, and the State of Israel is happy to lend a helping hand to India in this complicated and difficult time. I am confident that India and Israel can work together to find innovative and cheap solutions to help the world overcome this crisis.”
“The Covid-19 pandemic is a global challenge, so it is only right that the solution be a global scientific cooperation between countries. India and Israel’s military R&D cooperation is well known for its success. I have no doubt the same will be seen in the private sector joined by brilliant scientific minds from both countries to introduce a breakthrough in swift and simple testing procedures,” Dr Ron Malka added.
