Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday stressed on the need to focus on innovation during his breakfast meeting with top Indian business leaders in Mumbai, CNN News18 reported. Among those present at the event were Ajay Piramal, Rahul Bajaj, Adi Godrej, Harsh Goenka, Anand Mahindra, Dilip Shanghvi, Ashok Hinduja, Atul Punj and Chanda Kochhar.

“The partnership between India and Israel is doing wonders,” Netanyahu said at the event. “The future belongs to those who innovate. Innovation does not happen by itself, it has to be encouraged.”

Netanyahu also said he had a “strong personal friendship” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Israel prime minister later addressed an India-Israel Business Summit at the Taj Hotel, and laid a wreath as tribute for the victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Netanyahu speak to around 30 members of the Jewish community at the hotel.

Netanyahu also met 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg, whose parents were killed during the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008. Netanyahu interacted with Holtzberg at Nariman House.

“Your [Moshe’s] parents showed love to the people and welcomed all to this house [Chabad House],” he told Holtzberg, according to the Hindustan Times.