Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said the partnership between India and Israel was “doing wonders” as he met top corporate honchos of the country in Mumbai and exhorted them to focus on innovation.

“Partnership between Israel and India is doing wonders… I have a strong personal friendship with PM Modi,” said Netanyahu in the meeting attended by business leaders including Anand Mahindra, Ajay Piramal, Adi Godrej, and Chanda Kochhar.

Netanyahu asked the captains of the industry to focus on innovation.

“Future belongs to those who innovate. Innovation doesn’t happen by itself, it has to be encouraged. Our job is to encourage you to innovate,” he said.

On penultimate leg of his six-day India tour, Netanyahu arrived in Mumbai from Ahmedabad on Wednesday night and will be address the India-Israel Business Summit at the Taj hotel in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

This will be followed by Netanyahu laying a wreath for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack victims at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace opposite the Gateway of India and a visit to the nearby Nariman House, where he will meet 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg, whose parents were killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Both these places – the heritage hotel and the once non-descript Nariman House – were the targets of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack by 10 Pakistani gunmen who sneaked in from the Arabian Sea.

Netanyahu is expected to declare the Chabad House as a Living Memorial in which the orphaned toddler Moshe, was saved by his Indian nanny Sandra Samuel from the terrorist mayhem.

However, his young parents Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka lost their lives along with seven others in the attack, after which little Moshe and Samuel were taken to Israel.

Later, he will attend a gathering with the members of the small but prosperous Jewish community living in different parts of Mumbai.

The evening is reserved for a gala glamour-filled engagement with Bollywood personalities, his final engagement before returning home on Friday morning.

(With inputs from agencies)