Chamber News – December 2009
In this Issue:
Nov. 24, 2009 Seminar: Relocating Israeli Employees to the U.S. Tax and Visa Considerations
Dec. 3, 2009 Chamber Annual Conference in New York
Dec. 24, 2009 Meeting with MK Dan Meridor
Feb. 9-22, 2010: Upcoming Events by our Sister Chambers
in the U.S.
New Members
Business Opportunities
Benefits for Members
Future Events
Chamber Hosts Dan Meridor
The Chamber will hold a breakfast meeting hosting MK Dan Meridor, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy, on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, at 8:30a.m. at the Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv, 91 HaYarkon St., Tel Aviv.
MK Meridor will discuss The Middle Eastern Challenges Facing Israel and the U.S. (in Hebrew).
Participation fee: For Members of the Chamber: 120NIS (including VAT)
For non-members: 160NIS (including VAT)
RSVP at Tel: 03-6952341, email: amcham@amcham.co.il
The event is sponsored by Abbot Laboratories.
Past Events
The Chamber Annual Conference in New York
U.S. & Israel – Confronting Challenges
More than 400 guests participated in the Chamber Annual Conference in New York on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, which was made possible with the cooperation of the America-Israel Friendship League; America-Israel Chamber of Commerce & Industry in New York and Israeli Business Forum of New York.
Fifty speakers in fourteen panels and sessions discussed business and financial issues concerning Israel and the U.S. The event opened with a power breakfast with Prof. Jacob Frenkel, former Governor of the Bank of Israel, and Ms. Abby Joseph Cohen, senior analyst at Goldman-Sachs Investment House. The two speakers agreed that the financial crisis is nearing conclusion, but Americans' biggest concern is the inability to come up with immediate solutions to the rising rate of unemployment.
The keynote speakers were the Governor of the Bank of Israel, Prof. Stanley Fischer -who described the encouraging data of the Israeli economy in face of the crisis, which is winding down; Minister of National Infrastructures, Dr. Uzi Landau, who called on the Israeli government to increase funding for bi-national funds for R&D, and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Michael Oren; who surveyed Israeli-U.S. relations.
The conference focused on a number of central issues: education, alternative energies, medical technology, new media, real estate, security and finances. Among the speakers: Inventor Dean Kamen; visionary of solar energy and founder of SunEdison, Jigar Shah; Real Estate mogul Jared Kushner; Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, Joel Klein; SVP of Research and Innovation at the Coca Cola Company, Bilal Kaafarani; VP Renewal Energies, Christopher Myers, and CEO of Henry Schein distribution company, Stanley Bergman.
During the conference, three Israeli companies were presented: ExactCost in the medical equipment field; Time to Know regarding education technology, and Better Place in the solar energy field.
Booky Oren, Chairman of Miya, Arison Group; Israel Makov, Chairman of Netafim; Michael Federmann, Chairman of Elbit Systems and Hon. Daniel C. Kurtzer, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, moderated workshops.
A delegation of 40 businesspeople arrived from Israel, led by Chemi Peres, Chairman of the Chamber, and Amb. Danny Gillerman, Chairman of the America-Israel Friendship League. Participants included Avner Raz, Chairman of the Israel Military Industries; David Kolitz, Chairman of Elul Technologies; Moshe Gaon, Chairman of Gaon Holdings; Dr. Idan Tamir, CEO of Rad-Biomed; Entrepreneur Zvi Alon; Yossi Rosen, Chairman of Oil Refineries; Nir Lampert, CEO of Golden Pages; Avi Bzura, CEO of Bank of Jerusalem; Danny Fishman, partner at Tamir-Fishman Investments and Managing Partner at Gaia Real Estate; Rami Kalish and Isaac Hillel, Managing General Partners at Pitango Venture Partners, and Shlomo Grofman, Chairman of FaireFund.
The group participated in "Israel Day" at the New York Stock Exchange and participated in the Opening Bell Ceremony.
Dan Senor, author of the best-seller Start-Up Nation, described the popularity of the book among Americans unfamiliar with the Israeli hi-tech industry.
A special award was presented to Advocate Kenneth J. Bialkin for his activities and contribution to Israel over the past few decades. Amb. Dan Halpern, Vice Chairman of the Chamber, moderated the event.
The event was sponsored by: Continental Airlines; Bank Hapoalim, Citibank; Hapoalim Securities, Lockheed Martin; Matimop; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kushner Companies; Pitango Venture Capital; Rudin Management Company, Schulte Roth & Zabel and The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute.
For photos from the event, click here .
Seminar: Relocating Israeli Employees to the U.S.:
Tax and Visa Considerations
The Chamber held a seminar on Relocating Israeli Employees to the U.S.: Tax and Visa Considerations, on Nov. 24, 2009, at the Chamber Conference Room.
Susan J. Cohen, Founder & Chairman of the Immigration Practice at Mints Levin Law Office, described Successful Visa Strategies for Launching into the U.S. Her presentation can be accessed here.
Upcoming Events by our Sister Chambers in the U.S.
Feb. 9. 2010, Houston, TX Israel Innovation Seminar, with the Chairman, President and CEO of Continental Airlines.
For further information, click here.
Feb. 22, 2010, Austin, TX: Texas-Israel Cleanovation Conference.
To register, click here.
The following companies have recently joined the Chamber:
|
Company |
Representative |
Website
|
|
Artist Pension Trust, business consultants |
Mr. Serge Tiroche |
|
|
Easynet (Seperia) Ltd., Internet Management Search |
Mr. Itai Levitan |
|
|
Eitan Stern - Business Management Consulting |
Mr. Eitan Stern |
|
|
Footsteps Ltd. |
Mr. Moshe Bar-Zvi |
|
|
Gtech Foreign Holdings Corporation, online games |
Ms. Gila Eli Ba |
|
|
ICEC, legal entry to the U.S. |
Mr. Danny Aran |
Business Opportunities
Members interested in distributing and/or seeking business opportunities in the U.S. are invited to contact Amos Fabian at the Chamber, amos@amcham.co.il.
Business Opportunities from Israel
- Turnkey company specializing in electro optics, micro electronics and software design is seeking clients (230).
- 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.
- Provider of targeted advertising services according to geographical locations is seeking advertisers.
Business Opportunities from the U.S.
- Delaware manufacturer of emergency light fixtures, to be used during power failures, is seeking representatives (801).
- Pennsylvania rapid prototyping company in the fields of medical and engineering devices is seeking clients and agents (802).
- Oklahoma manufacturer of insulating concrete forms is seeking to grant a distribution or manufacturing license in Israel. (803).
- Oklahoma engineering firm is seeking local engineering partners for regional projects. Areas of concentration: transportation, information technology and environment (804).
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
The Chamber is providing its Members, at a symbolic price, its boardroom on the 8th 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.
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 your employers hold valid visas and renew them well before the expiration deadline.
