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From Baltimore to Israel Governor Robert Ehrlich’s
Trade Mission to Israel, Nov. 4-9, 2003 Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. led a trade mission of 30 business, government, medical and Jewish community leaders to Israel in early November. It was his first international trip since taking office in January, 2003. The primary purpose of the trip was to expand Maryland’s international trade and research ties with Israel, a country renowned for its technological talents and innovation. Governor Ehrlich also sought to establish a Maryland/Israel partnership in homeland security to enhance the security of the state by learning from Israel’s emergency preparedness professionals. The results of the trip were impressive. Two Israeli companies announced the expansion of their companies in Maryland. Oblicore, a software developer, doubled its employment in Maryland with prospects for much stronger growth as a result of a new venture capital investment into the company. Medispec, a developer of lithotriptors, machines that dissolve kidney stones, is moving its headquarters from Israel to Germantown, MD. In addition, two cooperative research programs were established between the University of Maryland and Tel Aviv University, one to study the reliability of sophisticated electronic systems, the other to explore marine environments for unique biotech compounds with potential for pharmaceutical development. Both Maryland and Israel will invest $250,000 a year for three years to fund the marine biotech work. Governor Ehrlich and the delegation were greeted warmly by Israel’s leaders including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Ehud Olmert, Finance Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz. They were especially grateful that the Governor was leading a trade delegation seeking business ties with Israeli firms. The Mission was sponsored by the Maryland Israel Development Center and the Baltimore Jewish Council, both agencies of THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. To learn first-hand about this mission, please join us on April 27, 2004…read more |