Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condoled the death of Indian industry titan Ratan Tata, calling him a champion of the friendship between Israel and India. The former Tata Group chairman passed away on Wednesday evening aged 86.

Ratan Tata, the former Tata Group chairman, has died at the age of 86, according to a statement from the Indian conglomerate.

Ratan Tata has died at a Mumbai hospital at age 86. Tata is the former chairman of India’s oldest conglomerate Tata Sons.

Ratan Tata, a former chairman of Indian conglomerate Tata Sons, died at a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday night. He was 86. Tata Sons chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran confirmed Tata's death and described him in a statement as his "friend, mentor, and guide." He did not provide a cause of death.

Ahead of a state funeral, hundreds of people including corporate leaders, politicians and celebrities gathered in India's financial hub Mumbai to pay their last respects.

With the country’s economy on the cusp of historic change, the figure who did the most to lead Indian business onto the global stage is gone.

"He provided stable leadership to one of India's oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time, his contribution went far beyond boardrooms," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Oct 9 (Reuters) - Ratan Tata, the former Tata Group chairman who put a staid and sprawling Indian conglomerate on the global stage with a string of high-profile acquisitions, has died, the Tata Group said in a statement late on Wednesday. He was 86.

A renowned sand artist has created a tribute to business tycoon Ratan Tata on the beach. Tata, who passed away at 86, was chairman of Tata Group, India's largest conglomerate. #tata #ratantata #india