(JNS.org) India and Israel announced a new $5 million joint research program to further strengthen education-sector collaboration between the two countries. According to the Indian financial daily Business Standard, 66 research proposals have already been received and will be evaluated by experts on both sides. Annual bilateral trade between India and Israel currently reaches about $5 billion.  The announcement comes just days after Narendra Modi was sworn in as India’s new prime minister. Modi, who forged close ties with Israeli businesses as chief minister of the Indian state of Gujarat, has indicated he will pursue closer Indo-Israeli ties.