U.S.-IsraelBusiness Initiative

Cyber Week delegation visits national Israel Computer Emergency Response Team (IL-CERT) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce led an executive-level business delegation to Cyber Week in Israel from June 23-26 to discuss emerging areas of global cyber public policy, discover new technology, and expand the overall partnership. The program, which was in cooperation with the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, included a tailored schedule of business-to-business meetings, site visits, and networking events.  Cyber Week is one of the top international cybersecurity conferences in the world with over 8,000 attendees from 80+ countries. Trip highlights include: Visit to Israel’s Cyber Capital in Be’er Sheva. Meetings with CyberSpark advanced technologies park, Israel’s National Computer Emergency Response Team (IL-CERT), cyber entrepreneurs, and Ben Gurion University. Curated meetings with top Israeli technology companies and startups in specific domain areas to create business-to-business opportunities for delegates. Meetings with government leaders and policymakers from around the world, including senior U.S. government officials and officials from Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, and France U.S.-Israel seminar and networking reception for delegates in partnership with the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, AmCham Israel, and Israel’s Hi-Tech Association. Addressing growing cyber threats against American and global business is a top priority for C-suite executives and boards of major American companies. This is a global challenge that transcends borders and requires effective collaboration – at the operational level – between governments and businesses. This business mission build and strengthened alliances and partnerships in Israel across the world with like-minded people who understand the nature of these threats and who share our commitment to work together to counter them. The collaboration between the United States and Israel is a strong example of effective international cooperation in cyber. The connection points between the U.S. and Israel on cybersecurity are deep, multi-faceted, and make for a great case study in forging strong ties among governments and private sectors across the globe. Read the U.S.-Israel Cybersecurity Collaborative: a Roadmap for Global Private, Public Partnership by the Chamber’s Josh Kram and Vincent Voci here. Coverage about Cyber Week: Secret to Israeli cybersecurity innovation at TAU’s Cyber Week. (The Jerusalem Post, 6/27/19) Global cybersecurity experts gather at Israel’s Cyber Week. (JNS, 6/27/19)

 

 

 

 

 

Israel Supports American Innovation, Jobs and Investment.

Launched in 2017 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Israel Business Initiative, Business Israel educates and inspires leading chambers of commerce to foster stronger commercial ties with the State of Israel. This nationally- coordinated effort will engage chambers of commerce to exponentially expand the American business community’s exposure and access to Israel and create a new and powerful constituency of supporters of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Business Israel engages chambers of commerce to be champions of the US-Israel relationship and promote American and Israeli companies to work together and support economic growth in both countries – creating jobs and new products with the potential to transform industries.

Three Components of Business Israel

Business Israel leverages the U.S. Chamber’s national network by inspiring leading chambers of commerce across the country to catalyze stronger commercial ties between American communities and Israel. The campaign covers three main areas:

BUSINESS MISSIONS TO ISRAEL:
CEOs from a targeted group of 200 chambers of commerce learn about Israel’s economy, history, and politics. Participants meet Israeli government officials and business leaders and learn how to bring Israel to their communities and strengthen commercial ties.

NEW STATE INITIATIVES: Business mission attendees return to their communities and educate and promote the growth of the U.S.-Israel business partnership. After the trip they: 1. Host Business Israel forums across the country 2. Advocate on behalf of pro-Israel policies 3. Initiate new Israel-U.S. innovation partnerships

INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN:
Business Israel provides participants with a range of tools and services to support an integrated communications campaign about the U.S.-Israel business relationship. They:
1. Launch comprehensive digital marketing campaigns
2. Generate and share social media posts and groups
3. Craft and executive effective media outreach

 

About Business Israel

 

On Monday, June 25, 2018, the U.S.-Israel Business Initiative hosted U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry and Israeli Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz at the U.S. Chamber to sign an implementation agreement launching the U.S.-Israel Center of Excellence in Energy, Engineering and Water Technology.

In March 2018, the U.S. Congress appropriated $4 million to establish the Center, which will be matched by $4 million from the Israeli government. The Implementation Agreement signed at the Chamber provides the foundation for the establishment of the Center, which aims to accelerate development of innovative technologies for fossil energy, energy cybersecurity in critical infrastructure, the energy-water nexus, and energy storage. The Center significantly upgrades the governments’ support for advanced research, technology transfer, and commercial cooperation between the U.S. and Israel in the energy sector. Greater U.S.-Israel energy research and connectivity is already driving economic growth, and this Center will provide another avenue to support economic gains and advance technology development as Israel continues to grow its energy sector and transition much of its economy to natural gas.

The Chamber has been a strong advocate of the Center since Congress called for the Center’s creation in 2014, and it will continue to strengthen the connection between the private sector and both the U.S. and Israeli governments on energy security through the Center.

Coverage: Bloomberg; Politico; Arutz Sheva; Jerusalem Post; DailyEnergyInsider; Washington Examiner; Trading Charts

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 Website

Conference begins at 7:30 AM

View Agenda Here

The Summit will bring together business leaders, government officials, and water experts to discuss best practices in corporate water stewardship and public policies to address the ever growing, global demand for water.

Hear from leading policy experts, business leaders, investors, government officials, academia and research institutions, the Salt Lake Chamber and US Chambers of Commerce and global water innovators.

The Summit will focus on improving water governance to promote industrial and economic growth, public policy and regulatory challenges, water stewardship, sustainable water principles, public-private partnerships and promoting investment in water infrastructure and technologies, and much more.

OBJECTIVES

• Showcase innovative water technologies and best practices in the following areas:
  o Agriculture—providing water for agricultural land in the face of competing demands
  o Smart Cities—Sourcing, monitoring, treating, and delivering water to users in new ways
  o Water reuse—utilizing alternative water supplies to conserve resources
  o Water storage—increasing capacity, lengthening storage time, and reducing cost
  o Water utilities—developing new water grid systems to distribute water more efficiently
•  Promote investment in water technology, water infrastructure, and resource management,
  utilizing financing models such as public-private partnerships
• Build ongoing Israel-Utah collaboration in water management and technology adoption
• Share lessons for desert environments from Israel’s national water strategy

PARTICIPANTS

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

  AREAS OF FOCUS

• Improving water governance to promote industrial & economic growth: Discussing public policy, innovative advancements and regulatory challenges for industry.
• Water stewardship in corporate strategy: Promoting good water principles across the corporate supply chain, including understanding and addressing risks.
• Public-private partnerships: Supporting models for cooperation on water management solutions.
• Promoting investment in water: From water infrastructure to technologies that drive innovation in water resource management.

PAST SPEAKERS HAVE INCLUDED:

• Doug Ducey, Governor of Arizona
• Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Glenn Hamer, President and CEO, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Oded Distel, Head of Israel NewTech, Israel Ministry of Economy and Industry
• John Sabo, Director of Future H2O, Arizona State University
• Todd Brady, Director of Global Public Affairs and Sustainability, Intel*
• Jon Radtke, Water Sustainability Program Manager, Coca-Cola
• Sandy Fabritz, Director Water Strategy, Freeport McMoRan
• Chuck Chaitovitz, Vice President for Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Kathryn Sorensen, Director, Phoenix Water Services
• Barbara Martin, Director of Engineering and Technical Services, American Water Works Association
• Robert Puente, President/CEO, San Antonio Water System
• Booky Oren, Chairman and CEO, Booky Oren Water Technologies
• Tim Thomure, Director, Tucson Water
• Paul Orme, Special Counsel, Pinal County Irrigation Districts
• Cynthia Campbell, Assistant City Attorney, City of Phoenix*
• Sarah Porter, Director of The Kyl Center for Water Policy, Arizona State University
• John Hoopes, SRP Board Vice-President & Arizona-Mexico Commission Board Member
• Rhett Larson, Morrison Fellow in Water Law and Associate Professor of Law, Arizona State University*
• Amit Gross, Director of the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev*
• Marshall Davert, Executive Vice President for Water, Stantec
• Brian Powers, Business Development Director, Water Solutions, DowDuPont Specialty Products Division
• Jon Freedman, Senior Vice President, Suez Water Technologies

* invited

Agenda: You can find a tentative agenda here.

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

Hotel Reservations: To receive the conference discounted price and reserve your room contact Snowbird’s Central Reservation Office directly 1-800-453-3000.  Attendees should mention the “SALT LAKE CHAMBER – US WATER SUMMIT” or “CORPORATE DAY FUNCTION RATE.”  Click HERE for information about the lodge, however, to receive the discounted price, you need to call 1-800-453-3000.

To learn more about sponsoring the upcoming BusinessH20 Summit in Snowbird, Utah, click here.

2016 Business H20 Summit Recap

By Sean Hackbarth

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blog | March 3, 2015

View the original article.

Today, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a joint session of Congress. As much as security and geopolitical relations are at the forefront of the U.S.-Israel relationship, don’t forget the economic ties between the two countries.

Myron Brilliant, executive vice president and head of International Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, makes three observations about the U.S.-Israel economic relationship in this op-ed in The Hill.

1. Israel is the partner to the oldest U.S. free trade agreement—30 years.

Since the signing of the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement 30 years ago, two-way trade has multiplied tenfold to over $40 billion per year with shared economic benefits for both countries.

2. Israel is a major U.S. economic partner in the Middle East.

Israel is the top importer of U.S. goods in its region, despite representing a mere 2 percent of the population. There are more companies listed on the NASDAQ exchange from Israel than from any country besides the U.S. and China. And nearly half of all investment into the U.S. from the Middle East comes from Israeli companies. The commercial relationship, while often glossed over given the focus on security matters, is not only sparking new technologies but supports thousands of good jobs in both countries.

3. Israel is an innovation hub.

In a country as small as Israel, it is amazing that over 250 multinational companies have R&D centers there. And underscoring the importance of our relationship, two-thirds of them are U.S. companies. Intel, Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco have been in Israel for decades, and just days ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Israel to inaugurate the company’s largest innovation center outside of California.

Israel is also rich in start-ups, like Tel Aviv-based Insights, a “crowd-consulting platform” for governments and Aquanos, a company using algae to treat wastewater.

Because of trade and innovation, future economic prospects between the U.S. and Israel are bright. Last year, in a piece on the maturing economic relationship between the two countries, the U.S. Chamber’s Josh Kram wrote, “Much of what will define the relationship in the coming five years was unthinkable a decade ago, let alone three decades ago when the FTA was signed.”

As public support for Israel remains strong, much will be gained for both countries—and the Middle East–as commercial ties deepen.

Op-Ed by Myron Brilliant

The Hill | March 03, 2015

View the original article.

The U.S.-Israel relationship has been under a microscope ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. While shared national security issues will continue to dominate the discussions between the governments – as they will on this trip – these issues are just a component of what drives the strong bonds between our two countries. One often overlooked facet of our relationship is the important strategic economic partnership.

The U.S. and Israel have long-standing trade and investment ties that serve to benefit both countries, and our close commercial bond supports game-changing innovation benefiting the global economy. Since the signing of the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement 30 years ago, two-way trade has multiplied tenfold to over $40 billion per year with shared economic benefits for both countries.

In a country as small as Israel, it is amazing that over 250 multinational companies have R&D centers there. And underscoring the importance of our relationship, two-thirds of them are U.S. companies. Intel, Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco have been in Israel for decades, and just days ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Israel to inaugurate the company’s largest innovation center outside of California.

Israel is the top importer of U.S. goods in its region, despite representing a mere 2 percent of the population. There are more companies listed on the NASDAQ exchange from Israel than from any country besides the U.S. and China. And nearly half of all investment into the U.S. from the Middle East comes from Israeli companies. The commercial relationship, while often glossed over given the focus on security matters, is not only sparking new technologies but supports thousands of good jobs in both countries.

It is also abundantly clear that there is a strong nexus between commercial and security matters. Just take a look at our growing collaboration in areas such as cybersecurity and energy.

Following major cyber breaches on public and private institutions across the world, we have a better understanding of the vulnerability of our companies and governments. With more than 10 percent of global cybersecurity investment going into Israel—including from U.S. investors—and Israel’s own establishment of a new cyber hub in Beersheva, we can already see the importance of our partnership in this area.

Israel’s energy sector is another example of the significance of our relationship. In 2009, U.S.-based Noble Energy discovered one of the largest deep-water natural gas reserves in the last decade and has been working with Israeli partners to develop and bring gas both to the Israeli market and the broader region. This development, if harnessed correctly, could ensure Israel’s energy independence and security for generations to come. Since Israel had a very limited energy industry prior to these finds, the U.S. is critical in helping to build out this sector. These areas and others will drive the coming years of cooperation between our two countries.

A look at our past and current relationship shows that stronger commercial and security ties have been and will continue to be mutually reinforcing. But we need to do a better job of embracing the full extent of U.S.-Israel relations. Much more can be done to ensure a healthy, prosperous, and growing relationship if we work hand in hand to expand our commercial ties.

Brilliant is executive vice president and head of International Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

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.