Chamber Events
Mark the date:
The Chamber's Annual Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony
The annual gala dinner and awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005, at 7:30 p.m., at the American International School in Kefar Shmaryahu. Details and an invitation will be sent shortly.
"The Economic Policy of Israel" ? Dr. Yaron Zelekha
The Chamber will host Dr. Yaron Zelekha, Accountant General at the Ministry of Finance, on Monday, September 19th, 2005 at 4 p.m., Asia House, 4 Weitzman St. Tel Aviv, at the Auditorium on the 4th floor.
He will lecture on The Economic Policy of Israel. Opening remarks: Mr. Dan Halperin, vice president of the Chamber.
Participation fee: NIS 70 (including VAT). Invitations were sent by mail. To RSVP, Tel: 03-6952341.
The Cultural Gap- Cultural Differences ?Ms. Caryn Tamari
You are invited to a lecture and presentation by Ms. Caryn Tamari on The Cultural Gap- Cultural Differences, to take place on Thursday, September 29th, 2005, at 4 p.m., Asia House, 4 Weitzman St., Tel Aviv, at the Auditorium on the 4th Floor.
Ms. Tamari will describe how cultural differences between Israelis and Americans can impact your transactions and professional relationships, and answer questions on such topics as dealing with the American aspects of business, how cultural differences affect business, the value of face-to-face interaction and daily international business communication methods.
Ms. Tamari is a consultant and a trainer for corporate and organizational clients in Israel and abroad. Among her clients: Texas Instruments, BMC Software, Teva, Given Imaging, Verinet Systems, and the Foreign Ministry.
Participation fee: NIS 100 (including VAT). Invitations were sent by mail. To RSVP, Tel: 03-6952341.
Seminar on Intellectual Property Rights
The Chamber, together with U.S.-based Morrison & Foerster Law Firm, will hold a seminar on Intellectual Property Rights and Patents on Monday, Oct. 31, 2005, at Gan Oranim in Tel Aviv.
Speakers will include experts from Israel and abroad. The agenda includes: a global business strategy to acquire and protect intellectual property; lessons learned from Syneron's successful patent litigation in the U.S.; the proposed revised Israeli patent law; data exclusivity period, etc.
Israel Gateway 2005
The Chamber will participate in the Gateway 2005 Fair on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv, in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Israel and the American State Offices Association of Israel (ASOA) ? at a booth dedicated to business activities in the U.S.
The exhibition will include booths devoted to countries and companies, and will feature business seminars as well.
The event is organized by the Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, the Manufacturers Association of Israel, and the Globus Gate Group. The fair will begin a day before the Prime Minister's Conference on Industry and Exports. Hundreds of business people and delegations from Israel and abroad will hold meetings and establish business relations. Chamber members who wish to participate will enjoy a special discount.
Past Events
Michigan Delegation
A delegation from Michigan, including State Senators, met with members of the Chamber Executive Committee Aug. 25. Members of the delegation included State Senator Bill Hardiman from Kentwood, chairman of Michigan's Welfare Services Committee; State Senator Gilda Jacobs from Huntington Woods, a top-ranking member of the Democratic caucus in the State Senate, and leaders of the Jewish Community in Michigan.
The President of the Chamber, Ambassador Zalman Shoval, described the Chamber activities, including its efforts to enhance purchases of U.S. products in Israel. He noted the growth in local activities on behalf of individual American states, counties and cities, utilizing the vast knowledge available in Israel, for the purpose of cooperation between Israeli technologies and U.S. funds.
Vice President of the Chamber, Mr. Tzvi Neta, Chairman of Automotive Equipment & Cars (importer of Chrysler automobiles), said that the ideal way to bring Israeli companies to invest in Michigan in general, and in the automobile industry in particular, was for the State to call on the Federal Government to earmark the financial aid it provides Israel, to buy American products. Mr. Neta added that new tax incentives and lenient regulations were very effective in encouraging new businesses from abroad, Israel included, in states like Maryland and Virginia.
Mr. Avi Barber, Boeing representative and member of the Chamber Executive Committee, suggested concentrating on cooperation efforts between American medium-sized companies and Israeli small ones. Mr. Barber suggested the delegation examine such existing models as a joint enterprise or agreements with several companies or States.
Executive Director of the Chamber, Ms. Tamar Guy, noted the Chamber would be delighted to assist Michigan companies with developing commercial relations in Israel, through the members and other business entities.
Additional participants included Continental Airlines senior country director, Mr. Avi Friedman, and Advocate Yossi Ben Dror, who heads the Chamber's Technical Standards and Regulations Committee.
U.S. Foreign Ministry Guest
Mr. David A. Gross, of the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs in the U.S. Department of State, a leading telecommunications expert, visited the Chamber at the beginning of the month and spoke with Chamber representatives about telecommunication infrastructure issues.
Guests included: Mr. Amnon Dick, Bezeq CEO; Mr. Tzvi Neta, Chamber Vice President and Chairman of Automotive Equipment & Cars; Ms. Shai-Lee Spiegelman, Legal Adviser and Government Relations Manager at Microsoft; Mr. Rami Guzman, former vice president of Motorola, today the company's director and an entrepreneur.
Mr. Gross was accompanied by his personal assistant, Ms. Deepti Rohatgi, and Ms. Barbara Masilko of the Economic Section at the U.S. Embassy in Israel. Chamber Executive Director, Ms. Tamar Guy, chaired the meeting.
Mr. Gross has led U.S. delegations to many international telecommunications conferences, and arrived in Israel to study telecommunication issues in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, especially in light of the disengagement from the Gaza Strip.
Mr. Dick described the local telecommunications market in general, particularly Bezeq, which is nearing completion of its privatization process. He emphasized that 80 percent of Israel's telecommunications market is in private hands. Mr. Gross was especially interested in Bezeq's WI-Max experiment in the Bedouin town of Rahat, and suggested a similar experiment be implemented in the Palestinian Authority as well.
Hurricane Katrina
We would like to thank our members for their overwhelming response to our requests for donations. Dozens of our members, including Sano, Lehman Brothers, General Electric, Bezeq, Gazit Globe, Heskia-Hacmun Law Firm, Card Guard and especially Teva, which donated $1 million, pledged toys, blankets, candy, diapers and thousands of dollars for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We mobilized the Manufacturers Association and the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, which forwarded our request to their members. We thank IVC, which circulated our message to 1,000 companies recorded in their database.
Our efforts have not gone unnoticed. Attached is an email we received from our counterparts in Chicago:
Tamar, many thanks for your kind sentiments and your supportive actions.
Unfortunately, even we Americans who live far from the area that was struck directly by this horrific storm are, like you, largely powerless to have any direct impact on the relief efforts and are largely left only to watch in horror and to hope and pray that as many as possible of the victims will be rescued and will somehow be resettled in a way that is not permanently devastating to their lives. It is very kind of you and your members, and the Government of Israel, to express your solidarity with and support for the hundreds of thousands left homeless and hopeless by this terrible act of Nature in the positive way that you did. All Americans who learn of your support will be very grateful for it, and we at the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago will do whatever we can to communicate to our Chicago community what you and your colleagues are doing to help.
Once again, our thanks for your kindness and support. We hope to see you and some of your colleagues on our next Illinois Business Mission to Israel, later this year.
Kol tuv, u?bivracha,
Bob Berger, President
America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago
Directory Listing
In the next edition of Connect Magazine, to be published in November 2005, we plan to include a membership directory. The listings will include the following details: Company name:
Primary field of business:
CEO and Chairman:
Representative's name and title:
Address:
Phone number:
Fax number:
Representative's email (or company's general email address):
Website
Like the magazine, the directory will be in English.
Members, who do not want to be included in the directory, or prefer a partial listing, should notify us by Sept. 15, 2005.
"Member to Member"
The Chamber has initiated the Member-to-Member Service, in which members provide other members benefits and discounts on their products or services. The following is the first list of benefits. Chamber members who wish to add their companies, should contact the Chamber. To receive a benefit, contact us.
? UMI- Universal Motors Israel: 4% discount for the purchase of Buick, Opel and Chevrolet cars.
? Tal Aviation/American Airlines: 7% discount on all hotels in the U.S., upon the purchase of Amtrak passes and tickets.
Tal is the official representative of Amtrak, which provides intercity passenger rail services to more than 500 destinations in 46 states.
? American Express: Order a platinum card and receive 4,000 bonus points toward Membership Rewards, which equals 50 points on El Al's frequent flier plan (worth $50 as of September 2005.
? Chemed Books Ltd.: 25% discount for books from Chemed Books and for Yediot Ahronot Publishing House.
? Communications Plus.: One hour of consulting, at no charge, to Chamber members, at the Chamber's conference room in Tel Aviv, in lobbying and political strategies.
? Koteret Public Relations: One hour of consulting, at no charge, to Chamber members, at Koteret's offices in Tel Aviv, in its following areas of expertise: public relations in Israel and abroad; investor relations and financial public relations for traded companies, and internal communications (primarily for large companies).
Other benefits:
? Eldan Rent-a-Car: Discount on rentals. For information, contact Ms. Tali Tahar, 03-5577002
? Eldan Jerusalem Hotel: 20% discount on rooms. For information, contact the reception manager, 02-5679777
? Verlain Hotel in Paris: Free Breakfast (worth 10 Euro) while staying at the hotel.
Business Opportunities
1. Manufacturer of mutes, that enhance acoustical and tonal performances, is seeking distributors (105).
2. Manufacturer of non-invasive technology to treat circulation problems is seeking a strategic partner (425)
3. Manufacturer of surface and in-ground lifts is seeking distributors (106).
4. Designer and manufacturer of thermoelectric cooling devices is seeking representation (424)
5. Producer of bulk and microwave popcorn is seeking distributors (175).
6. Producer of analytical and industrial instrumentation and sampling system us seeking representation (489)
7. Manufacturer of non-chemical water treatment systems for industrial, commercial and residential use is seeking representation (442).
Call for Proposals for Maryland/Israel Development Fund
The Maryland/Israel Development Center (MIDC), Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) and Israeli Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) announce a "Call for Proposals? for the Maryland/Israel Development Fund (MIDF), to support the creation of high tech products developed jointly by company teams from Maryland and Israel. The MIDF provides both funding and risk sharing with the company teams. The fund is intended for companies seeking to partner with a complementary business and expand into international markets. Investments must range from $100,000 to $300,000, half from DBED for the Maryland company and half from MOIT for the Israeli firm. The funds can only be used for the R&D expenses of the project. The company must provide matching funds at a minimum of 50 percent of total project costs. For products successful in the market, investments will be repaid with interest. The deadline for submitting proposals is October 31, 2005. Proposals will be evaluated and selected jointly by DBED and MOIT. Award decisions are expected in January 2006.
For more information, visit http://marylandisrael.org/programs_services/midf.html, or contact Executive Director Barry Bogage directly at info@marylandisrael.org or 1-410-767-0695.
New Members
68 new members joined the Chamber since January 2005. Our newest members are:
|
Company |
Field |
Representative |
| DB Properties Holding and Management Inc. | Holding | Mr. Nir Oliver |
| Doron Data-Base Ltd. | Publishers of port2port | Mr. Doron Geva |
| G.I.F.T. Israel Ltd. | Event Planning | Mr. Shlomo Ben Amara |
| Hadar Weitzman Group | Investment Services | Ms. Stephanie Weitzman |
| Harpaz Recycling Ltd. | Recycling | Mr. Tsachi Eitan |
| Yaron Shidlo Law Firm | Legal Services | Mr. Yaron Shidlo |
Delegations from the U.S.
Delegations from Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, Illinois and California are scheduled to arrive in Israel in the next few months.
Alabama: An official delegation, headed by Gov. Bob Riley, will arrive this month for three days. It will visit Rosh Haayin (sister city), Tefen Industrial Zone, Beer Sheva and Omer. The delegation will focus on life sciences and security and meet with Israeli companies.
Georgia: A technology and trade mission, headed by Gov. Sonny Perdue, is scheduled for Nov. 4-11, 2005, in time for the Prime Minister's Conference on Industry and Exports. The mission will include officials from the Georgia Department of Economic Development and business leaders from the technology and bioscience industries.
Maryland: A trade mission will arrive Nov. 5-10, 2005, in time for the Prime Minister's Conference on Industry and Exports. The mission will be led by Mr. Paul Mauritz , Maryland's Assistant Secretary of Economic Development for Technology Strategy and Business Development, and Mr. Hanan Sibel, Chairman of the Maryland/Israel Development Center.
Illinois: A trade mission will arrive Nov. 5-11, 2005, in time for the Prime Minister's Conference on Industry and Exports. The mission is a cooperative effort of the Chicago-Israel Business Initiative, World Business Chicago, the City of Chicago, the Israel Trade and Investment Center, the local America Israel Chamber of Commerce and the State of Illinois.
California: The Southern California-Israel Chamber of Commerce is organizing a delegation for the Prime Minister's Conference on Industry and Exports, Nov. 9-11, 2005. The Chamber's president, Mr. David Gardner, will lead the delegation.
U.S. and World News
U.S. Consumer Price Index
Consumer prices rose 0.5% in July, fueled by a 6.1% increase in gas prices. July is the first time in three months that the index has increased, pushing the rate of increase over the last 12 months up to 3.2%. Core inflation, excluding food and energy prices, rose just 0.1% in July. Over the last three months, the core index has increased 1.6% at an annualized rate.
U.S. Producer Price Index
Producer prices for finished goods rose a full 1.0% in July, including a 4.4% increase in energy prices. The gain raised the percentage increase over the past 12 months to 4.6%. The core index also posted a large increase, rising 0.4% for the month.
