Business & Professional
Economic Boosters
State lawmakers eye opportunities between Michigan, Israel.
Top row from left: Shlomo Ben Asher, Rep. Dudley Spade, Rep. Chuck Moss, Sen. Mark Jansen, Rep. John Proos, Rep. Vince Gregory and Rep. Bert Johnson.
Bottom row from left: Nicole Jackson, Rep. Shanelle Jackson, Linda Blumberg, Steven Miesowicz, Beth Gotthelf, Sen. Randy Richardville, Barbara Nurenberg, Jon Smalley
and Rep. Richard Hammel
I
n search of economic development
opportunities for Michigan, nine state
legislators as well as representatives
from the United Jewish Foundation of
Metropolitan Detroit and Southfield-based
JVS traveled on a Michigan Legislators
Mission to Israel from Aug. 9 to 16.
Because of its limited domestic market,
Israel is eager to develop economic partner-
ships with other countries. Michigan legis-
lators are eager to attract new businesses to
Michigan, bring jobs to the state and create
new markets for the state's products.
The mission included meetings with
key Israeli businesses that relate to
Michigan's economic growth sectors,
including homeland security, alterna-
tive energy and life sciences. Discussions
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explored the potential for Israeli busi-
nesses to locate to Michigan, Israeli
markets for Michigan products and vice
versa, and research and development col-
laboration between Israeli and Michigan
universities and institutes.
Participants met with representatives
from many business and research sectors,
including defense and homeland security
industries TAMOR, Achidatex and Elbit,
biotechnology incubators in Nazareth Illit,
Phoenicia Glass, alternative fuel company
Better Place, water waste management
company Miya Hadassah Hospital and the
Israel-America Chamber of Commerce.
Mission participants received a first-
hand understanding of Israel's politi-
cal, security and social issues/concerns
through briefings by the prime minister's
office and visits to social service pro-
grams supported by the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit. Home hospitality
in Michigan's Partnership 2000 region, the
Central Galilee, highlighted the value of
the people-to-people exchanges that the
Federation has fostered over many years.
Rounding out the trip were visits to the
YAD Vashem Holocaust Memorial and to
prominent historical sites.
Followup activities are under way,
including visits from Israeli businesses
to explore opportunities for working in
Michigan, exploration of markets for
Michigan products in Israel and plans for
future trade missions.
Although its population is less than
that of Michigan, and Israel is the world's
100th smallest country, it is second to the
United States in per capita research and
development. It has the highest ratio of
college degrees per capita and leads the
world with the percentage of scientists and
technicians in the workplace. It has the
highest concentration of high tech start-
ups outside of California's Silicon Valley.
The mission was arranged by the
United Jewish Foundation, Federation's
real estate/banking arm. Legislators par-
ticipating in the mission were Senators
Mark Jansen and Randy Richardville
and Representatives Vince Gregory,
Richard Hammel, Shanelle Jackson, Bert
Johnson, Chuck Moss, John Proos and
Dudley Spade. ❑