Minister Ed Vaizey leads top delegation from media and creative industries to Israel
The visit will introduce leading British content providers to cutting-edge Israeli technology companies with the goal of fostering future partnerships between the sectors in both countries.
Britain’s Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries Ed Vaizey is visiting Israel and the Palestinian Territories, bringing with him some of the leading names in Britain’s media and creative industries sectors.
The visit will introduce leading British content providers to cutting-edge Israeli technology companies with the goal of fostering future partnerships between the sectors in both countries. Minister Vaizey will also meet with Israeli Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon and Culture and Sport Minister Limor Livnat to discuss opportunities for UK-Israel cooperation.
At a a special dinner to welcome the delegation to Israel the minister said:
I’m here to support the UK-Israel Techonologies Hub, and to continue to build up the links between the UK and Israel in terms of techonlogy. Israel is a remarkable success in technology - it’s known all around the world, in terms of your achievements, given the size of the population, the number of noble prizes, technology success stories, this is truly remarkable.
He added:
I think we can learn a lot from each other and built a mutual relationship. We would continue to grow this relationship in the way it absolutely should be.
Ahead of the trip, Minister Vaizey commented:
This will be an exciting and ground-breaking visit, as we build partnerships that connect content with consumers. The UK is a world leader in content production, and Israel is a world leader in developing technology that gets content to consumers. so there is enormous potential for collaboration.
The delegation is a joint initiative of the newly-established UK-Israel Technologies Hub at the British Embassy in Israel, the Embassy of Israel in London, the British Council, UK Israel Business and the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute.
Haim Shani, the recently-appointed non-executive Chairman of the UK-Israel Technologies Hub, said:
Israel and Britain are ideal partners in technology, with complementary strengths that offer great potential if we can get our companies working more closely together. Building such a partnership is now a priority for both governments.
Among the companies participating in the delegation are BBC Worldwide, Ogilvy, Albion and Samsung.
During the trip, the delegation will meet leading Israeli businesspeople including Meir Brand, CEO of Google Israel, Avi Nir, CEO of Keshet broadcasting, Mimi Nofach-Mozes, Chairman of Yedioth Ahronot and Ron Ayalon, CEO of YES, visit TechLoft a start-up incubator in Tel Aviv to experience some of the newest, most innovative technologies coming out of Israel and tour JVP Media Labs in Jerusalem. The delegation will also visit Keshet and NDS, and meet representatives from Israeli success stories such as The Gifts Project (now owned by eBay) and LabPixies (bought by Google).
An event at the Israel Museum organised by the British Council in Israel will bring together leading figures in the Israeli cultural world to mark the first visit by a British minister of culture.
A dinner sponsored by Microsoft Israel and organised by UK Israel Business will officially launch Innovate Israel Technology Conference set to be held in London this June. The dinner will enable the delegation to meet over 120 growth stage web, mobile and media entrepreneurs as well as technology showcasing from Microsoft, Waze and Conduit.
While in the Palestinian Territories, the Minister and his delegation will meet innovative Palestinian companies based in Ramallah, such as PALTEL Group and the Palestinian IT Association, which are transforming consumer access to content and deepening interaction. The Minister will also explore the scope for business tie-ups and outsourcing with the growing Palestinian ICT sector.
Further information
- For more information on the visit, please contact Lucy Blechner, UK-Israel Technologies Hub on lucy@ukisraelhub.com
- Follow the visit on Twitter: @ukinisrael and @ukisraelhub
- And on Facebook