Trinidad and Tobago and Israel have started discussions about cybersecurity and smart cities, among other possible projects.T&T last week received its first visit by a head of Israel’s International Development Cooperation Agency, during which high-level talks with Government officials centred on partnerships to develop cyber-security, smart cities, modern agriculture and healthcare.According to director general of MASHAV, Ambassador Eynat Shlein, T&T was identified as a key partner in regional development and both countries have renewed a commitment to further expand on long-standing bilateral relations.Following speculation on what was discussed by Government officials and the Israeli diplomatic team last Tuesday and Wednesday, Shlein emphasised that the agenda being pursued by MASHAV was primarily driven by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to which T&T is a signatory.In a telephone interview last Tuesday, Shlein said meetings were held with Government officials, including ministers, in areas of national security, planning and development, technology, public health care, foreign affairs, infrastructure, education and agriculture.Shlein said discussions focused on local and regional security, food security and climate resilience, especially for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).Shlein said Israel has long been regarded as a “start-up” state and maintains this level of innovation today.She said it was hoped the high-level meetings would lead to partnerships that encourage the development of government platforms that support innovation.MASHAV will be reaching out to T&T after the meetings to see whether there is potential for partnerships.The Ambassador said the MASHAV mandate includes formulating frameworks that accommodate such partnerships.Shlein pointed out MASHAV’s emphasis on capacity building, through which over 350,000 global graduates (including some from T&T) have participated in programmes in various fields.Noting that her visit marked the first to T&T by a head of MASHAV, Shlein said the purpose of this week’s visit was to understand the Government’s current primary concerns and key development goals.She stressed: “This is not aid, but partnership”, and said both countries could learn from each other.“We’re always interested in hearing from the Government what their priorities are, and then we offer various partnerships in this regard,” Shlein stated.Her team’s mission in T&T is to promote sustainable development, including through the strengthening of vulnerable groups.Shlein said this included the development of women as part of the foundation of resilient communities.She said the MASHAV team tried to speak to as many state agencies as possible to better understand the population’s needs.Food, water securityShlein said there were many areas in which T&T could further partner with Israel which could benefit people here.Shlein said the global community, including the more vulnerable Caribbean and Latin American region, would have learned from the impact on food security by supply chain interruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic.Various geopolitical conflicts have also impacted global supply chains, she said.The MASHAV director general said Israel, which is a member of the UN, has a lot to offer in sustainable development. She said it was critical that the region take sustained action towards water security, including domestic water harvesting and the recycling of wastewater into agriculture.Building climate resilience required action at both a community and governmental level, she said. Shlein said there has been an impact on food production by weather patterns affected by climate change, including the devastation of food crops during floods.She noted that Israel has excelled for many decades in the area of food security, and promised: “We’re here to share the things that we know.”She said this included research and development in grain and livestock, as well as intensive food cropping.Israel is “partnering with our friends and with the different countries we work in”, including non-governmental organisations, she added.