​(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)
 
President Reuven Rivlin, continued his State Visit to India on Friday (18 November 2016) by visiting an agricultural Center of Excellence in the city of Karnal run by MASHAV, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ international development and cooperation agency. The President and First Lady Rivlin were given a tour of the center and of the greenhouses, before going on to plant a tree. They were accompanied on the tour by Haryana region's agriculture minister, Sh. Om Prakash Dhankar.

“We are bringing Israel’s name halfway around the world, to help people, not just countries and nations,” said the President during the visit. He added, “MASHAV has been working for nearly 40 years, bringing people around the world to appreciate Israel and its abilities. Anyone who has ever received MASHAV assistance – whether in India, or Africa, in Central or South America – returns home and talks about their experiences, which is perhaps the best produce of Israel.”
 
The President added, “MASHAV benefits all mankind and enhances Israel’s name as Gandhi said God appears to the hungry as food.” The President concluded, “I want to sincerely thank MASHAV, the Foreign Ministry staff, for their help and for the reputation they build for Israel in their humanitarian and crucial work and help for the people themselves in all places they are working.”