U.S.-IsraelBusiness Initiative

This week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce held the BusinessH₂O Summit, a conference bringing together business leaders, government officials, and water experts from the United States and Israel to discuss best practices in corporate water stewardship and public policies to address the growing demand for water. The U.S. Chamber also launched the U.S.-Israel Water Working Group under the umbrella of its U.S.-Israel Business Initiative to support ongoing efforts in advancing water sustainability. The Working Group will conduct a BusinessH₂O mission to Israel next year.

“As a significant user of water, the business community has a critical role to play in driving solutions to water challenges through greater efficiencies and conservation” said Myron Brilliant, executive vice president and head of International Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Our private sector needs to partner with water-advanced countries like Israel to adopt new technologies and best practices in water management, which will help create jobs and grow our economy.”

Companies and universities addressed issues such as improving water governance to promote economic growth, promoting investment in water technology, and strengthening U.S. collaboration with Israel on water policy and technology. High-level government leaders including Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona, and the Executive Director for the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development Steve Hill discussed the importance of public-private partnerships. Featured topics and speakers can be found here.

The BusinessH₂O Summit was organized in partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry, led by Oded Distel, Director of Israel NewTech. A delegation of Israeli water technology start-ups, organized by the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce, travelled to Las Vegas for the Summit.

 The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation released its 2016 case-study report on corporate water stewardship at the summit, and the U.S. Chamber is producing a white paper on the summit’s key takeaways for the next administration.

 The conference concluded with a memorandum of understanding signing between Israel’s National Technological Innovation Authority and Nevada’s WaterStart, a public-private joint venture to coordinate expertise and infrastructure on water innovation. 

 Resources:

 Nevada and Israel together can Shape the Future of Water

http://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/nevada-and-israel-together-can-shape-the-future-water

 Nevada, Israel at Las Vegas Summit agree to Collaborate on Water Innovation

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/nevada-israel-las-vegas-summit-agree-collaborate-water

 Experts Discuss How to Protect Water

http://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/experts-discuss-how-to-protect-water/618620215

 Arizona Water Leaders Confer with Colorado River states on Drought Contingency Plan

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2016/12/14/arizona-water-leaders-confer-with-colorado-river.html

 

 

Special Thanks to our Summit Sponsors:

MGM Resorts International – Ben-Gurion University of the Negev – Arizona State University – PepsiCo – Nestlé Water North America – Haifa Group – RWL Water – Netafim

                

Thank you to our Organizational Partners: 

Israel-America Chamber of Commerce – U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation – Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce – Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce – Desert Research Institute – Texas Association of Business – San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce – Southern Nevada Water Authority – California Chamber of Commerce – The Water Council – WaterStart – American Water Works Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conference begins at 7:30 AM

Tower Ballroom 4 & 5

Updated Agenda Here

This summit will bring together business leaders, government officials, and water experts to discuss practices in corporate water stewardship and public policies to address the growing demand for water.

OBJECTIVES

• Showcase best practices and case studies in corporate water stewardship
• Establish water sustainability as an enabler of economic growth
• Promote a business case for water and engage the business community on water issues
• Advance policy ideas, public-private partnerships, and industry solutions to manage water resources
• Strengthen U.S. collaboration with Israel on water policy and technology

PARTICIPANTS

• Business leaders and investors
• State and metropolitan Chambers of Commerce
• Federal, state, and local government officials, including governors and state development agencies
• Water utility authorities
• Academia and research institutions
• Government of Israel, including government ministers and water experts

  THEMES:

• The Future of Water – What are the trends, risks, and emerging solutions?
• Improving Water Governance – What public policies will ensure economic growth?
• Water Innovation – How can businesses effectively mobilize technologies?
• Water Stewardship as Business Strategy – What are best practices for implementing good water principles throughout corporate supply chains?

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

• John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado
• Doug Ducey, Governor of Arizona
• Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• James Murren, CEO, MGM Resorts International*
• Dr. Mehmood Khan, Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, PepsiCo
• Seth Siegel, Bestselling Author, “Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solutions for a Water-Starved World”
• John Sabo, Director of FutureH2O, Arizona State University
• David LaFrance, CEO, American Water Works Association (AWWA)
• Henry J. Charrabé, President & CEO of Global Operations, RWL Water
• Snehal Desai, President, Dow Water Process Solutions
• Yalmaz Siddiqui, Vice President, Corporate Sustainability, MGM Resorts International
• Noam Weisbrod, Director, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
• Nelson Switzer, Chief Sustainability Officer, Nestlé Waters
• Roy Zuckerberg, Honorary Chairman of the Board, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev / Former Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs & Company
• Tamar Shor, Senior Deputy Director General for Regulation, Israel Water Authority
• Glenn Hamer, President & CEO, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Tal Shani, Marketing Manager, Haifa Chemicals
• Booky Oren, Chairman & CEO, Booky Oren Global Water Technologies / Former Executive Chairman of Mekorot- Israel National Water Company
• Emilio Tenuta, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability, Ecolab
• Zohar Yinon, CEO, Hagihon – Jerusalem Area’s Water and Wastewater Utility Company
• Kristin McMillan, President & CEO, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce*
• Pat Mulroy, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution/ Desert Research Institute
• Mizraim Cordero, Vice President of Government Affairs, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
• John Entsminger, General Manager, Southern Nevada Water Authority
• Israel Shamay, Executive Director, Israeli Industry Center for R&D, MATIMOP
• Dean Amhaus, President and CEO, The Water Council
• Oded Rose, CEO, Israel-America Chamber of Commerce
• Nathan Allen, Executive Director, WaterStart
• ‎Jennifer Gerholdt, Senior Director, Environment Program, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

* invited

Agenda: You can find a tentative agenda here.

Registration: Registration is OPEN. Please click here to register.

Hotel Reservations: Discounted Reservations at the Bellagio Resort & Casino can be made here

Registration will close on December 5, 2016. 

 

The U.S.-Israel Business Initiative will be hosting a reception on the evening of Monday, March 23 for a visiting Israeli business delegation who are in Washington to participate in the SelectUSA Investment Summit. For additional information, please contact Josh Kram at JKram@uschamber.com.

Khush Choksy (left), speaks with U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro during the Chamber-led business mission to Israel.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce led a business delegation to Israel to connect U.S. companies with Israeli business and government leaders for discussions on advancing the bilateral economic relationship on June 15-16. Headed by the Chamber’s Vice President for Turkey and Middle East Affairs Khush Choksy, the delegation coincided with the annual U.S.-Israel Joint Economic Development Group (JEDG) meetings led by Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin.

“The Chamber is committed to strengthening the U.S.-Israel commercial relationship, and we proposed the creation of a U.S.-Israel Strategic Economic Dialogue to provide an opportunity for our governments and private sectors to discuss shared opportunities and challenges,” Choksy said. “This trip proved the merits of such a model by bringing a high-level group of business executives to Israel to provide input to the annual government-to-government economic dialogue.”

The delegation met with top Israeli government officials and key ministers in the inner-circle of Israeli leadership, including Harel Locker, Director General of the Office of the Prime Minister and Silvan Shalom, Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Infrastructure.

As part of the delegation, the Chamber organized a one-day policy with leading members of the Israeli private sector and U.S. government to provide input into the JEDG talks. Among those who participated were Dan Shapiro, U.S. Ambassador to Israel; Charles Rivkin, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs; Uriel Lynn, President of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce; Avi Hasson, Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Economy; Neil Corney, Managing Director, Citi Country Officer for Israel; and Eitan Yudilevich, Executive Director, BIRD Foundation.

On the occasion of the Chamber’s mission and JEDG meetings, Ambassador Shapiro published an op-ed praising the private sector and government delegations to Israel and calling for additional trade and investment between our two economies. The op-ed can be found here (in Hebrew).

The delegation also participated in the annual Israel America Chamber of Commerce Gala Dinner, which was attended by more than 500 leading Israeli business people. Khush Choksy addressed the audience, which included Ahmet Bozer, COO of The Coca-Cola Company, Minister of Interior Gideon Saar, Ofra Strauss, Chair of the AmCham, and U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro. See here for more information on the AmCham Gala Dinner event.

At the conclusion of the two-day trip, the Chamber submitted ten recommendations for improving the commercial relationship between the United States and Israel and identifying opportunities in new economic sectors. Those recommendations include establishing a bilateral strategic economic dialogue, updating the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement, promoting support for energy development, and including Israel in the visa waiver program. The delegation also proposed recommendations related to cybersecurity, research and development, intellectual property, and infrastructure procurement, among others. The U.S.-Israel Business Initiative’s full recommendations are available here.

The JEDG is the pre-eminent government-to-government economic dialogue between the U.S. and Israel. This year’s JEDG attracted significant participation from both the U.S. and Israeli governments, including a concluding session with both U.S. Secretary of Treasury Jacob J. Lew and Israeli Minister of Finance Yair Lapid. The U.S. Embassy’s press release can be found here, and a transcript of Secretary Lew’s speech can be found here.

International trade and investment is a key component of the Chamber’s 2014 American Jobs, Growth, and Opportunity Agenda, an ambitious plan to generate stronger economic growth, create jobs, and expand opportunity for all Americans.

Josh Kram (third from right), meets with U.S. and Israeli supporters of the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation.

The U.S.-Israel Business Initiative hosted the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research & Development (BIRD) Foundation’s annual reception on June 25, 2014.

American and Israeli officials, including Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) and Amit Lang, Director General of the Ministry of Economy, spoke about the importance of the bilateral commercial relationship.

BIRD Board of Governors co-Chairmen Avi Hasson, Chief Scientist of the State of Israel, and Dr. Phillip Singerman, Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), also spoke and highlighted the vital work of the BIRD Foundation.

The BIRD Foundation provides seed funding for Israeli and American to work collaboratively to “define, develop, manufacture, sell and support an innovative product based on industrial R&D.”

BIRD is a critical driver of U.S.-Israel commercial relations.  The Foundation has facilitated over 850 projects between leading American and Israeli companies, which has yielded cumulative sales of over $10 billion.

The Chamber recently submitted a set of policy recommendations to both the U.S. and Israeli governments prior to their annual government-to-government economic dialogue. Among the suggestions was increased funding for the BIRD Foundation as part of an overall strategy to strengthen U.S.-Israel economic ties.

“American and Israeli companies continue to work together to invent, develop, and bring to market cutting-edge ideas and products,” said Josh Kram, Executive Director, U.S.-Israel Business Initiative at the Chamber.  “The relationship serves as a growth engine for both of our economies — creating jobs and new products with the potential to transform industries and society.”

Israel’s Ministry of Economy visits the Chamber

A senior delegation from the Israeli Ministry of Economy visited the Chamber as part of consultations with the U.S. government and business community on regulatory impact analysis (RIA) on June 25, 2014.

The delegation, led by Amit Lang, Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Economy, met with Chamber regulatory experts Bill Kovacs, Senior Vice President, Environment, Technology, and Regulatory Affairs, and Adam Schlosser, Director, Center for Global Regulatory Cooperation, to discuss the obstacles, best practices, and internal processes surrounding the RIA process.

The Chamber’s The Chamber’s Center for Global Regulatory Cooperation seeks to align trade, regulatory, and competition policy in support of open and competitive markets.

The Environment, Technology & Regulatory Affairs Division develops, implements, and advocates U.S. Chamber policy on issue areas of vital importance to the business community: environment, energy, natural resources, food safety, biotechnology, agriculture, technology, and regulatory processes.

Reuven Azar (left), Deputy Head of Mission, and Moshe Bar Siman Tov (right), Economic Attaché, speak at the U.S. Chamber about political and economic developments in Israel and the region.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Israel Business Initiative (USIBI) hosted a political and economic briefing with the leadership of the Israeli embassy on September 17, 2014. euven Azar, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Israel, gave a political overview of the current developments in the Middle East and talked about the uncertainty afflicting the region and its impact on Israel.

While not dismissive of the numerous threats against Israel’s security, Azar spoke how they are giving rise to opportunities for both political and economic cooperation between neighbors in the energy, water, and logistical sectors. Azar expressed hope that these partnerships can create a “corridor of stability” in the region.

Earlier this month, Israel signed a deal to supply Jordan with $15 billion worth of natural gas from its Leviathan field over the next 15 years. Previously, the bulk of Jordan’s energy had come from Egypt, but the supply lines carrying the gas through the Sinai continued to be a target.

Similarly, with the war in Syria making trade through that country impossible, Israel has initiated a pilot project using the port of Haifa to transport goods between Turkey and Jordan. There are currently plans to expand this project to include a land-bridge in the border area near Jenin, which would allow for Palestinian businesses to take advantage of this trading corridor as well.

Azar then spoke about Gaza. While Israel has achieved an unconditional ceasefire, the situation is remains shaky. He added that real development of Gaza is not possible unless Hamas changes its policy of violence against Israel.

Moshe Bar Siman Tov, the Economic Attaché at the Embassy of Israel, told the assembled companies that the economic impact of the fighting in Gaza is both marginal and temporary.

“The effect is quite short and quite limited, and things are getting back to normal,” he said. Bar Siman Tov credited the agility of the Israeli economy with minimizing the disruptions caused by the recent fighting.

Bar Siman Tov also spoke of the structural reforms that Israel has undertaken in recent years, which have led to a lowering of the national debt and a competitive tax regime. Bar Siman Tov, who assumed his role in July, said that he looked forward to increasing U.S.-Israel commercial cooperation. Israel sees cooperation with the U.S. as an important part of its strategy to create more business, more investment, and more jobs, he said.

Azar added that there are a number of areas where American engagement can benefit both economies, such as with the strategically important sectors of energy, cyber security, and water management.

Yael Andorn (right), Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Finance, meets with representatives from America companies at the U.S. Chamber on October 9, 2014.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted the leadership of Israel’s Ministry of Finance for a discussion with the business community on ways the private sector can work with the Government of Israel to strengthen U.S.-Israel commercial relations.

Yael Andorn, the Director General, and Yoel Naveh, the Chief Economist, both expressed their commitment to engaging with the private sector to address issues and identify opportunities. Discussions like this are an important channel to communicate “how we as a government can help promote the business sector,” said Andorn. “In so many ways, we can work together.”

The Israeli cabinet approved the 2015 budget last week. The 328-billion-shekel budget (roughly $88 billion) is similar to the 2014 budget, but with an additional 6-billion-shekel increase in defense spending. Andorn touched on Israel’s security challenges, but added that Israel continues to remain a resilient economy based on technological advancement.

Earlier this month, Moody’s maintained Israel’s A1 rating as a safe place to invest. According to the agency, Israel’s economic growth, entrepreneurial dynamism, and stable political system ensured that Israel would remain a good risk for investors. In September, both S&P and Fitch assigned Israel an A+ Stable rating and an A Positive rating, respectively.

While Israel’s reputation as an entrepreneurial hotbed is well-founded, Andorn explained that “we don’t just want start-ups, we want big companies.” She continued that it is incumbent upon the Finance Ministry to lead governmental efforts to design tax systems, stable regulatory frameworks, and national budgets supporting economic growth.

The Chamber has proposed the creation of a U.S.-Israel Strategic Economic Dialogue, which would provide a consistent avenue for both governments and business sectors to meet and discuss shared economic opportunities and challenges.

“With Israel, we feel we have a lot to gain by being involved in your economic dialogue,” said Josh Kram, Director for Turkey and Middle East Affairs at the U.S. Chamber. “The business community needs to be at the table.”

The U.S. and Israel have an annual macroeconomic dialogue, the Joint Economic Development Group (JEDG) meeting, which is chaired by the Israeli Ministry of Finance and the U.S. Department of State. There has been movement to expand this dialogue to include strategic sectors such as energy and cyber security.

Andorn expressed a favorable view towards upgrading this dialogue, including establishing an avenue for private sector participation. The most recent JEDG took place in Israel this past June, and had more than 80 combined participants from the two respective governments, including U.S. Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew and Israeli Minister of Finance Yair Lapid.

The Chamber led a business mission to Israel in coordination with this year’s JEDG. Prior to the delegation, the Chamber shared a set of private sector recommendations with actions both governments could take to support economic growth.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted the leadership of Israel’s Ministry of Finance for a discussion with the business community on ways the private sector can work with the Government of Israel to strengthen U.S.-Israel commercial relations.

Yael Andorn, the Director General, and Yoel Naveh, the Chief Economist, both expressed their commitment to engaging with the private sector to address issues and identify opportunities. Discussions like this are an important channel to communicate “how we as a government can help promote the business sector,” said Andorn. “In so many ways, we can work together.”

The Israeli cabinet approved the 2015 budget last week. The 328-billion-shekel budget (roughly $88 billion) is similar to the 2014 budget, but with an additional 6-billion-shekel increase in defense spending. Andorn touched on Israel’s security challenges, but added that Israel continues to remain a resilient economy based on technological advancement.

Earlier this month, Moody’s maintained Israel’s A1 rating as a safe place to invest. According to the agency, Israel’s economic growth, entrepreneurial dynamism, and stable political system ensured that Israel would remain a good risk for investors. In September, both S&P and Fitch assigned Israel an A+ Stable rating and an A Positive rating, respectively.

While Israel’s reputation as an entrepreneurial hotbed is well-founded, Andorn explained that “we don’t just want start-ups, we want big companies.” She continued that it is incumbent upon the Finance Ministry to lead governmental efforts to design tax systems, stable regulatory frameworks, and national budgets supporting economic growth.

The Chamber has proposed the creation of a U.S.-Israel Strategic Economic Dialogue, which would provide a consistent avenue for both governments and business sectors to meet and discuss shared economic opportunities and challenges.

“With Israel, we feel we have a lot to gain by being involved in your economic dialogue,” said Josh Kram, Director for Turkey and Middle East Affairs at the U.S. Chamber. “The business community needs to be at the table.”

The U.S. and Israel have an annual macroeconomic dialogue, the Joint Economic Development Group (JEDG) meeting, which is chaired by the Israeli Ministry of Finance and the U.S. Department of State. There has been movement to expand this dialogue to include strategic sectors such as energy and cyber security.

Andorn expressed a favorable view towards upgrading this dialogue, including establishing an avenue for private sector participation. The most recent JEDG took place in Israel this past June, and had more than 80 combined participants from the two respective governments, including U.S. Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew and Israeli Minister of Finance Yair Lapid.

The Chamber led a business mission to Israel in coordination with this year’s JEDG. Prior to the delegation, the Chamber shared a set of private sector recommendations with actions both governments could take to support economic growth.