Israel-America Chamber of Commerce

Future Events

Meeting: Investments in Texas

A delegation organized by the Texas- Israel Chamber of Commerce, is heading a delegation visiting Israel this month to seek investment opportunities in Texas. Chamber Members are invited by the delegation to a reception and dinner on Monday, June 15, 2009, 6p.m.-9:15p.m. at the Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv, which will include a presentation on resources, funding sources, manufacturing and technology edge and partnering opportunities available in Texas.

The event will include a panel with the following:

* Mark Ellison, representative of the Governor of Texas, former Emerging Technology Fund Director (ETF), currently associate vice chancellor for economic development at Texas A&M.

* Terry Anderson, Vice Chairman of the Texas- Israel Chamber of Commerce

* David Wiessman, CEO of Alon Oil

* Eitan Yudilevich, Executive Director of the BIRD Foundation

* Avi Friedman, Senior Country Director at Continental Airlines

* Tamar Guy Executive Director of the Chamber

Participation is at no cost. For registration and further information, email amos@amcham.co.il or call 03-6952341.

Seminar: Visas to the U.S.

Chamber Members are invited to a seminar on Visas to the U.S. on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 4-6p.m., at the Asia House Conference Center, 4th floor. 4 Weitzman St., Tel Aviv.

Participants:

*Mr. Andrew C. Parker, Consul-General

*Ms. Rachel C. Graciano, Vice-Consul and E-Visa Officer

*Mr. David J. Drinkard, Vice-Consul

U.S. Embassy

On the agenda:

* Visa Waiver Program

* B1/B2 Visas

* L, H & E Visas (Work Visas to the U.S.)

* Visas for defense-sector employees

* Retaining Green Card status while living outside the U.S.

Moderator:  Erin Green, Esq. of Kan-Tor & Acco Law Offices.

The event, sponsored by Kan-Tor & Acco Law Offices, Member of the Chamber, is aimed primarily at HR managers, travel managers and travel agents.

Participants are invited to submit questions prior to the seminar

Registration fee: 100 NIS, including VAT. To RSVP, and/or to submit questions beforehand, contact the Chamber: amcham@amcham.co.il, or by telephone: 03-6952341.

Teleconference: Stimulus for Renewable Energy

We would like to direct your attention to a teleconference on Economic Stimulus for Renewable Energy on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 7p.m. ( Israel time). The teleconference is sponsored by Morrison & Foerster Law Firm, a Member of the Chamber. Further information can be found in the following link: http://renewableenergyinfo.org.

Mark your Calendars

Dec. 3, 2009: The Chamber Annual Conference in New York, which will focus on U.S. & Israel: Confronting Challenges.

Feb. 22, 2010: Cleantech event in Austin, TX, for cleantech companies and investors.

Details to follow.

Past Events

The Chamber's Annual Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony

ECACC Conference – Washington DC

Chamber Executive Director Tamar Guy joined representatives from 30 other countries at the annual conference of the European-American chambers in Washington DC in June. The conference took place at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with the participation of its president, Tom Donohue.

Guest speakers included Commerce Secretary Gary Locke; Senator Charles Grassley, senior Republican member of the Senate Finance Committee; Former Republican Congressman Tom Davis; John Castellani, President of Business Roundtable, an association of 160 chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies, and David Weiner, Deputy Assistant of the United States Trade Representative for Europe.

Main issues raised at the conference included double taxation on multi-national companies, which would severely harm those companies outside of the U.S.; "Buy American", a clause included in the U.S. incentive packages that prevents fair competition for other products, and updates on the U.S. and global economies.

Business Opportunities

To publish your own business opportunity in the U.S. and Israel, contact Amos Fabian, amos@amcham.co.il.

Business Opportunities from Israel

1. An Israeli company, developer of footwear that corrects flat-feet while getting rid of insoles and allowing freedom of movement at the ankle, is seeking a manufacturing agreement or a joint venture agreement.
2. An Israeli business development company would like to assist companies in penetrating the Israeli market or expanding its operations here (225).
3. A producer of red light phototherapy devices is seeking importers or distributors in the health care or cosmetic industries (226).

Business Opportunities from the U.S.

1. Illinois exporter of defense, police and security uniform fabrics and equipment is seeking representatives (772).
2. Delaware exporter of heavy equipment and machinery for industrial and infrastructure development purposes is seeking clients (773).
3. Georgia manufacturer of corrugated steel pipes for many different concrete applications, including bridges, parking decks, oil platforms, concrete piles, precast walls, tilt up walls, jail cells, condominiums, hotels, is seeking representatives (774).
4. Pennsylvania storage container provider is seeking representatives (776).
5. Georgia manufacturer of recycled plastic playgrounds is seeking representatives (775).
6. Pennsylvania manufacturer of diamond knife sharpeners for chefs and butchers is seeking representatives (777).
7. Tennessee manufacturer of mobile digital video products and systems is seeking customers and dealers (779).
8. Georgia manufacturer of footwear is seeking representatives (780).
9. New Mexico manufacturer of bath, body and spa products, using a blend of infused, wild-crafted sage, pinon and juniper and herbal extracts, is seeking representatives (782).
10. Pennsylvania biodiesel plant is seeking clients (778).

Buy Israel Goods

We would like to direct your attention to the website www.buyisraelgoods.org, a consumer guide for the retail purchase of Israeli products. BIG covers markets that include more than 75% of the Jewish population of the U.S.

Benefits for Members

English in your own free time – online!

The Chamber, with The Q Group, is offering members an online, low-intermediate-level English business course for all your international business and travel needs.

Q Business Traveler allows you to study the specific English you will need in 16 business and travel situations, including: travel, hotels, greetings, eating out, socializing, work, directions, and appointments.

The Q Business Traveler offers you the chance to improve your:

• reading, pronunciation, grammar, and speaking skills.
• overall vocabulary – including words and expressions.
• American and British spelling, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

You can purchase the course only through the Chamber, at a special discount – NIS250 for Chamber Members, NIS350 for others. The number of licenses is limited. For more information, contact Amos: amos@amcham.co.il

Chamber Boardroom

The Chamber is providing its Members, at a symbolic price, its boardroom on the 8^th floor in the America House in Tel Aviv. Up to 18 people can be seated around the table, or up to 35 people in a theatre configuration. Services include a first-rate projector, a "barcode" for presentation purposes. To make use of the boardroom, contact the Chamber.

Fast-Track Visa to the U.S.

The Chamber assists its Members with a fast-track service for interviews for visas to the U.S. The service is designated only for business trips. The service includes a fee.

For information, contact the Chamber.

Make sure you renew your visa well before its expiration deadline.

Step-by-Step Guide to set up an interview at the American Embassy

The Chamber, with Kan-Tor Acco Law Offices, has produced a guide describing the Internet procedures required to set up an interview for a visa to the U.S. The user-friendly guide describes the process from one step to the next. The guide is available here. A printed guide will be sent to people interested, at no cost. Requests should be submitted to orel@ktalegal.com.

Visas to the U.S. for Owners of European Passports

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced regulations requiring owners of European passports - which allow entry into the U.S. without a visa – to receive approval (once every two years) of their entry, at least 72 hours before arriving in the U.S.
For further information: www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html

New Members

26 companies have joined the Chamber in 2009. The following companies have recently joined the Chamber:

The Chamber expresses its condolences to the Grebenau Family and Shira Trading with
the passing of Uri Grebenau Z"L