Chafee to promote Little Rhody in Israel

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee is planning a trip to Israel to promote Rhode Island products and investment opportunities.
Chafee will look to strengthen ties between Rhode Island and Israel in industries such as defense, life sciences, technology, research and development, academia, and tourism, with the aim of increased exports to the country and foreign investment from Israel in Rhode Island.
The governor’s trade mission, to be organized by the R.I. Economic Development Corp., is slated for Nov. 4 to 12 and will include visits to Israeli companies and trade shows, meetings with Israeli government officials and the U.S. ambassador, and cultural tours to Jerusalem, Haifa, Nazareth and Galilee.
Chafee is recruiting more than a dozen Rhode Island companies to attend matchmaking sessions with Israeli companies. The governor will also present a half-day seminar on the advantages of doing business in Rhode Island to the members of the New England Israel Business Council.
“This trip is about looking beyond our borders to identify opportunities for Rhode Island businesses to expand and increase employment,” said Chafee. “The goal is increased economic activity and job creation for Rhode Island businesses, and I am going to examine all possibilities for realizing that goal, including looking abroad to a key trade ally for strategic partnerships and export opportunities.”
“On this mission, we will look together at key opportunities to make our states thrive and solidify a special partnership that will bring development and growth to both Rhode Island and Israel,” said Shai Bazak, Consul General of Israel to New England.
Israel reached a Free Trade Agreement with the United States, eliminating nearly all tariffs on trade and administrative import licensing requirements between the two countries, in 1985.
The last governor to take a similar trip was then Gov.-Lincoln Almond, who toured Argentina, Brazil, Portugal and the Pacific Rim.