Gov. Holcomb signs agreement to promote business cooperation between Indiana and Israel

Those include agbioscience, cybersecurity, internet of things, advanced manufacturing, energy generation and storage, microelectronics, life sciences, nanotech and autonomous transportation.

"Hoosiers are proud of the rich friendship we've developed with the state of Israel, and the MOU we've signed today takes this partnership to the next level," Holcomb said in a statement issued from Tel Aviv, Israel.

"Indiana and Israel are tech and agbiosciences powerhouses, and there are abundant opportunities for academic exchanges, mutual investment and cross collaboration between our two states."

Holcomb, a Republican, is in Israel this week on his fifth international trade mission since taking office last year.

Besides the innovation agreement, he's also led a delegation of Hoosier business and agricultural leaders to the annual Agritech Israel summit, where Holcomb promoted Indiana's "pro-growth business climate."

The governor is due to be back in Indiana on Friday.

One week later, Holcomb will head to Europe on his sixth international trade mission that ultimately will see him return to the Hoosier State May 25 on the first trip of Delta's new nonstop flight from Paris, France to Indianapolis.