Gandhinagar : As part of his three-day official India tour, H.E. Mr. Bezalel Smotrich, Hon. Minister of Finance of Israel visited Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) — India’s first operational smart city and maiden International Financial Services Centre in Gandhinagar on Wednesday. The visit reaffirms GIFT City’s emergence as a dynamic hub for financial services, cutting-edge technology, and innovation, drawing growing interest from global leaders and investors.

Accompanied by a delegation comprising senior officials from the Israel Government and regulators, Mr. Smotrich engaged in detailed discussions with Mr. K. Rajaraman, Chairperson, IFSCA, Mr. Sanjay Kaul, MD & Group CEO, GIFT City and senior officials from GIFT City & IFSCA to understand the GIFT City’s development model, including its IFSC, fintech innovation hubs, and progressive regulatory framework. He expressed his deep appreciation for the scale, vision, and execution of GIFT City, commending it as a model for future-ready financial & tech infrastructure.

Considering GIFT City being project of national importance, the Minister noted the city’s role in positioning India as a global financial hub and highlighted its potential as a platform for India–Israel collaboration in finance and technology.

Welcoming Mr. Smotrich to GIFT City, Mr. Sanjay Kaul, said, “We are honoured to host Hon’ble Finance Minister Mr. Bezalel Smotrich at GIFT City. His visit reflects the global recognition GIFT City is receiving as a modern financial & tech hub. We see immense potential for collaboration between India and Israel, especially in areas like fintech, innovation, and sustainable finance. We look forward to building long-term partnerships that create value for both economies.”

Discussions during the visit highlighted the existing diverse opportunities available at GIFT City across banking, insurance, capital markets, fintech, and asset management. Backed by world-class infrastructure, progressive regulations, and strong government support, GIFT City is steadily positioning itself as a gateway for global institutions to participate in India’s growth story.