The U.S.-Israel Business Initiative (USIBI) is the premier vehicle advancing the bilateral commercial relationship between the United States and Israel. USIBI pursues policy and organizes activities to deepen our strategic alliance through greater trade and investment.
- USIBI is the only organization advocating on behalf of the U.S.-Israel commercial relationship on a national level
- USIBI is a unique platform for senior government officials and leading business executives to come together to discuss opportunities and challenges in the bilateral relationship
- USIBI supports policies that create opening for our companies to collaborate on strategically vital sectors, such as energy, cyber security, and life sciences.
USIBI is a core program of the Middle East and Turkey Affairs Department. It is part of the U.S.Chamber of Commerce and integral to the International Division that helps the U.S. business community compete in the global marketplace. The Initiative has full access to the Chamber’s congressional and legal affairs divisions, as well as various Chamber institutes and programs. This access can be used to advance USIBI policies, programs, and initiatives.
Key USIBI Priorities
- Advancing trade and investment policies promoting bilateral commerce. The U.S. Chamber looks at ways to improve the commercial relationship through various policy mechanisms.
- Strengthening U.S.-Israel cooperation on energy. Israel’s recent discovery of significant natural gas reserves off its coast presents a range of new possibilities for the country– economic, strategic, and political. USIBI is at the forefront of an effort to enhance U.S.-Israel energy cooperation by advocating directly with government officials and encouraging business-to-business interaction.
- Creating new programs and initiatives to enhance bilateral cooperation around areas of corporate interest, such as cybersecurity, life sciences, innovation, and energy. USIBI organizes working groups, based on member interest, to explore and develop new avenues for business development and commercial cooperation. The Chamber organizes a range of programs, events, and meetings around key sectors of interest.
- Educating business leaders and policymakers about the U.S.-Israel commercial relationship. Through the Chamber’s extensive network, USIBI educates key stakeholders about the important national economic impact of U.S.-Israel relations with a particular focus on how this alliance is a driver of job creation, innovation, and economic advancement. The USIBI works with members of Congress, the administration, and a wide range of business leaders.
Activities
- Organizing trade missions to Israel for senior-level executives.
- Hosting regular forums with U.S. and Israeli officials and private sector leaders.
- Developing economic impact studies and sector-specific research on U.S.-Israel relations.
- Advocating for public policies supporting bilateral trade and investment.
- Communicating with the American business community on developments and opportunities in the Israeli market.
U.S. Presence
Headquartered at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., members of the Initiative meet regularly with senior Israeli government officials as well as top U.S. officials who cover Israel and broader Middle East. Through recent programs, Initiative members have met with Members of Congress, administration officials, senior representatives in the departments of commerce, energy, state, and defense, Office of the United States Trade Representative, among others, as part of the Initiative’s ongoing partnerships with U.S. government officials.
USIBI works closely with the Embassy of Israel and Israeli consulates through the United States to organize business forums and events with senior Israeli and U.S. government officials. The Initiative also works closely with the U.S. Embassy in Israel to promote bilateral commercial linkages.
Israel Presence
USIBI has unparalleled access to the Government of Israel and Israeli private sector. USIBI works closely with its affiliate, the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce.
USIBI also cooperates with the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, the Manufacturers’ Association of Israel, the Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation, as well as sector-specific industry associations.
Board of Directors
In 2014, the USIBI officially established a Board of Directors to help guide and shape our work. The board is comprised of business leaders from both the U.S. and Israel, in addition to former government officials from both countries.