Israel’s Chief Scientist, Dr Eli Opper, to Highlight Merage Fellows Event in January
Dr. Eli Opper, the Chief Scientist of Israel’s Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor, will be the featured speaker at a gathering of the graduates of the Merage Foundation for U.S. Israel Trade’s next alumni gathering in Tel Aviv on January 26th. Dr. Opper, whose Department allocates millions of dollars of government funding each year to high tech startups, will share his experience in that capacity as well as discuss his own personal journey to this position. The Merage Foundation sponsors three two week programs each year in Irvine, CA for Israeli executives and now has 205 alumni in Israel. The next such program is scheduled to run from February 1-13. EDI operates the Israel Liaison Office for the Foundation.
EDI Participates in “U.S. & Israel: 60 Years of Alliance & Enterprise” Event
EDI was represented in Washington on December 2nd at a special, one day program sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at their headquarters, marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel. The event highlighted the successful commercial relationship between the U.S. and Israel, the fact that Israel is America’s 20th largest trading partner, and celebrating the 23rd anniversary of the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement. Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Sallai Meridor highlighted the event as did Stuart Eizenstat and former US Ambassador to Israel, Daniel Kurtzer. This is the first time that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has hosted such a program.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty Visits Israel
Early December saw the first ever visit of Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty to Israel accompanied by a 40 member trade and state government delegation. EDI president Sherwin Pomerantz gave the opening lecture to the group on their first day in the country, December 14th, on the topic of “Doing Business in Israel: A Newcomer’s Overview.” EDI represents the interests of the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Minnesota.
Seminar on Entering the U.S. Market Held Dec. 8th in Tel Aviv
EDI, in its strategic partnership with Stratus Marketing Partners of Boise, ID, sponsored its third Market Entry Seminar for Israeli companies hosted by the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Tel Aviv. Greg Mower, a partner at Stratus, was in Israel that week to conduct the seminar which drew representatives from 28 local companies.
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