סיכום פעילות הלשכה - לשנת 2021

The Chamber launched the Climate and Environment Forum that will focus on addressing challenges facing the private sector when coming to comply with 2050 climate targets. The Forum is serving as a platform for cooperation between Chamber members and with the relevant government entites including Ministries of Environment, Energy, Economy and Transportation.  The Forum members include:  Amdocs, IAI, Intel, Elbit, Amazon, Microsoft, Cisco, Teva, Strauss, IBM, Netafim, Dow, Western Digital, Solaredge and others.

About this event
The Circular Innovation Platform is the place for innovators to tackle the circular economy challenges of Israel’s leading companies. In the next months, we invite all people with ideas on how to shape our future to join our community, explore the challenges, submit solutions and try to win the competition.

During this event, we will launch the circular innovation competition and platform, and look into the potential of circular innovation in Israel and beyond.
Join us online May 4th, 17:00 – 18:00 Israel Daylight Time (16:00 – 17:00 CET/ 10:00 – 11:00 ET)

Register here

The event is part of the Amcham Israel Circular Economy Forum, a collaboration between the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce, Afeka Tel Aviv Academic College of Engineering, Dow, FBC & Co., Circular Economy IL, HP Indigo, P&G, Intel, Clariter, United Motors Ltd, Unilever, Netafim, Strauss, Teva, Philip Morris International, Israel Aerospace Industries, and ICL Group to stimulate the transition to a circular economy in Israel.

Amcham Israel had a great pleasure to have Avi Nevel Founder and CEO of the RIIC (Rhode Island Israel Collaborative), visit our offices and discuss plans for 2022 to increase collaboration between Amcham members and the State of Rhode Island.  Amcham Israel commends Avi Nevel for the excellent work he and the RIIC Board are doing to promote relations between Israeli companies, the State of Rhode Island and the United States in general. 

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, Israel - America Chamber of Commerce, and Israel Advanced Technology Industries (IATI) cordially invites you to a virtual business webinar on October 20: “Business Opportunities for Israeli companies in Northern Virginia.”

The forum will highlight growth sectors, such as cybersecurity, AI, cloud, and homeland security.

 In this timely event, the Fairfax County EDA will provide a glance into the resilient and strong economy in Northern Virginia and the wide-range of services we can offer your company as we progress toward 2022 and up-side growth opportunities.  

 More than 35 Israeli companies are already in Fairfax County taking advantage of the proximity to the nation’s capital, low-cost business environment, a very skilled workforce, and direct flights from Tel Aviv to Washington Dulles International Airport. Companies such as Cellebrite, Forescout, Armis Security, Amdocs, Israel Aerospace Industry North America, Elbit Systems of America, VERINT, Similarweb, and Cyren.

 Topics:

•        Northern Virginia after the COVID-19: open for business

•        Expansion by major corporations: Amazon HQ2, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Salesforce, AWS, Northrop Grumman, Leidos, and Booz Allen Hamilton.  

•        Update on the US economy: what to expect toward 2022

•        Trends in hot segments: cybersecurity, AI, cloud, and homeland security.

•        Case study: Successful entry and expansion to the US market – an Israeli firm in Fairfax County.

•        Business development, legal, and accounting services for go-to-market strategies.

 

The Fairfax County, Economic Development Authority, promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA offers site location and business development assistance, and connections with County and state government agencies, to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County. In addition to its headquarters in Tysons, Fairfax County’s largest business district, the FCEDA maintains business investment offices in six important global business centers: Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul, and Tel Aviv. Follow the FCEDA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

To register, please click here

 

Ben Gurion International Airport is open since March 7.  With over 4.9 million Israelis fully vaccinated, the number of daily coronavirus cases has gone down by 97 percent.

Amid the coronavirus outbreak easing, health officials have warned that international travel could introduce dangerous new virus variants, and as a result, there are still restrictions upon entry of foreign nationals to Israel.

Important: The information below is being updated on a daily basis at Kan-Tor & Acco COVID 19 post. Click here for the recent update.

The following are the most current COVID - 19 travel advice for foreign nationals:

Flight Arrangements:

  • Any foreign national seeking entry to Israel will have to provide a copy of medical health insurance, valid in Israel, that specifically includes coverage for COVID - 19.
  • Before the flight to Israel: Any person arriving will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken at least 72 hours prior to departure.
  • Upon Entry to Israel: All incoming passengers must comply with COVID-19 testing requirements including those who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from the virus

Entry Permit is required for any foreign national seeking travel to Israel: 

  • New Foreign experts’ entry for work: Following the recommendation of the relevant Ministry (Transportation, Energy, Health, Economy, etc.) and the issuance of the work permit, there is still a need to obtain an entry permit for the foreign expert from the Ministry of Interior (local office or work permit unit: depending on the type of visa).
  • Re-entry to Israel: Regardless of the need to have a multiple entry visa, all foreign experts need to obtain an entry permit before each entry to Israel, even if they hold a multiple entry visa. KTA can be prepared & submit the application before departure from Israel at the Ministry of Interior.
  • Business trips to Israel: Applications must be submitted in Israel to the Ministry of Economics. Upon approval that the travel is of extreme necessity, a subsequent application must be submitted to the Ministry of Interior.
  • Inbound Group Tourism: A limited number of vaccinated tourists will be allowed to enter Israel in organized groups starting May 23, 2021.
  • Individual Tourists: Currently not permitted. It is expected to be allowed in at a later stage.

Isolation Requirements, and how to shorten the Isolation for only 3 days from entry into Israel:

  • Those who already got vaccination in Israel: A COVID –19 test is required upon entering Israel, however, if the test is negative, isolation will not be required.
  • Those who were not vaccinated (including children living in Israel that cannot be vaccinated yet): A COVID –19 test upon entering Israel is required, as well as home isolation. Plans are being put in place to require a deposit be made on a “tracking kit” (such as an electronic bracelet or SMS digital phone tracking software), to ensure that people isolate themselves at home. If no consent is given to the tracking kit, the person will be required to be isolated in a state-run isolation facility.
  • Those who Vaccinated abroad: A COVID –19 test upon entering Israel is required, as well as home isolation. Upon receipt of a “Negative” COVID – 19 check at the airport, the individual can perform a serological test. The serological test can be made at the isolation place or the private authorized clinic. Upon receiving confirmation of immunity, the individual can apply for a waiver from isolation from the Ministry of Health.

The isolation is required for 14 days from arrival. The isolation period may be reduced to 10 days by showing negative results on two COVID-19 tests. The first test should be taken as soon as possible after arrival, and the second test on the 9th day.

Departure from Israel 

Foreign nationals: No restrictions on departures.


 Important Disclaimer:

The information contained in this post is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice.
The information is gathered from various public media sources at the courtesy of KTA to its own clients and website visitors. Due to the rapid, sometimes daily changes in policy, we urge any traveler to get updated at the official government websites prior to planning or taking any international travel to or from Israel.

Tel Aviv (Dec. 8th) The Circular Economy Forum of Amcham Israel held the Award Announcement Event for the International Innovation Competition. 20 Israeli and American companies including Dow, Intel, P&G, Netafim, IAI, Toyota, Stratasys, Strauss, Unilever and others, presented 24 circular economy challenges. Dozens of teams, companies and individuals from around the world submitted solutions to those challenges.
The winners are:
1st place: PlasticBack (https://www.plastic-back.com/) - low temperature conversion of plastic waste to short hydrocarbon fractions which can be used and upcycled by the petrochemical industry. A huge challenge presented by DOW, of eliminating plastic garbage.
2nd place: TripleW (https://www.triplew.co/)- upcycling food waste and specific industrial effluents into high-value, low-cost biochemicals in an eco-friendly bioprocess. A challenge presented by Intel.
3rd place: Avoid (https://www.avoid.net.br/) - refill machine for fast moving consumer good that fill and mixes the water content of the product on the spot and also provides an automated post-mix bottling solution. The Challenge was presented by Unilever.
The Amcham CE Forum (https://www.circularsolutions.co.il/) platform had over 6,000 unique visitors in the four months of the competition, and proved an effective tool in bringing together large multinationals with small startups and individuals, creating a community of over 300 circular change makers, and promoting incredible innovation.
Thank you to Avi Blau head of Institute for Circular Engineering and Economy at the Afeka College, and to Camille Janssen, project Coordinator, for leading the Innovation Platform, amongst other activities of the Amcham Israel CE Forum.

The Israel-America Chamber of Commerce was proud to host Deputy Under Secretary of State Hady Amr for a round-table discussion on current political and economic affairs in the region with Amcham Board Priority Members.  The discussion and Q&A session followed remarks by Mr. Jonathan Shrier, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy and by Mr. Amr, and an overview presentation by Chamber CEO and Board members of the Chamber's activities. 
The discussion revolved around key trade issues between the United States & Israel and explored ways to strengthen our close commercial ties.

Amcham CEO Oded Rose hosted Yochai Gafni, GM Dow Israel, Ronit Benbasat Rom, Head of People & Places, Intuit Israel and Dr. Daniel Katz, GM of BMS Israel at a panel that highlighted the experiences of US Companies' executives in operating in Israel. The webinar was well attended by chamber members of the American Chambers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain. The three panel members who also lead Amcham Committees addressed the advantages and challenges when operating in the Israeli market, with focuses on the need to have local people who understand the culture of doing business in Israel, on the culture of innovation, on challenges of hiring talent, and Israeli bureaucracy.  The panelists also discussed their committees' activities to promote the interests of Amcham members in the fields of Circular Economy, Pharma, and regional cooperation.  In his remarks Oded noted that Amcham Israel is excited about the business potential and opportunities that arise from the recently signed Abraham Accords and is working to strengthen the ties with its sister chambers in the region.

For the webinar recording click here

 

 

 

 

Israel-America Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), and its forums for Circular Economy and Climate and Environment initiated an informal meeting this week (Oct. 28) between CEOs and executives of companies participating in the forums, members of the Chamber's board of directors and senior representatives of government ministries dealing with innovation and the environment, at the Midburn Festival 2021. Midburn (Midbar in Hebrew means Desert) is the Israeli manifestation of the American Burning Man.

The goal was a close encounter with the guiding principles of the Midburn community of sustainability, equality, acceptance of the other, recycling, environmental protection, art and more.

For our 25 participants, for 12 hours, it was a particularly fascinating and enjoyable multi-sensory experience.

We are now talking about having a full Camp Amcham at the Midburn 2022 on topics of circular economy, emissions reduction and preserving the climate and the environment, and will connect these to art exhibitions. Stay tuned. Special thanks to Alon Barnea, Amcham's Board member.

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