UKTI Chief Executive visits Israel
Dominic Jermey finds out about opportunities for UK exports, partnerships with Israeli companies and meets with inward investors.
Dominic Jermey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) visited Israel on 16 to17 September 2014. It was his first overseas visit since being appointed CEO of UKTI.
Dominic’s 24 hour visit included meetings with British business operating in Israel, Israeli government officials, and potential and existing inward investors.
Opportunities in the Arab sector
Dominic accompanied Ambassador Matthew Gould to an event organised by the Authority for the Economic Development for minorities at the Prime Minister’s Office. The event showcased opportunities within the Arab sector, focusing on technology and innovation.
He spoke at the event and stressed that the UK can act as a bridge between the Arab entrepreneurs and their potential markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
UK-Israel tech relationship
Dominic and Her Majesty’s Ambassador (HMA) visited a reception celebrating UK Israel tech partnerships.
This was organised by the embassy’s UK Israel Tech Hub for all British guests attending the Digital-Life-Design (DLD) conference in Tel Aviv. The conference is a platform to connect global thinkers, CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, opinion leaders and creative talents.
Dominic spoke at the event and emphasised the importance that the UK places on developing the tech relationship with Israel.
Oil and gas opportunities
Dominic attended a meeting at IBI, one of Israel’s leading investment houses. He was briefed about Israel’s nascent oil and gas sector and potential opportunities for UK companies.
Meeting British businesses operating in Israel
Jermey also met with the Israel Britain Chamber of Commerce and British businesses operating in Israel. At the meeting he briefed guests about the:
- UK’s economy
- British government’s opposition to boycotts
- importance placed on developing the commercial ties between the UK and Israel
The audience included representatives from:
- Asserson Law Offices
- Parsons Brinckerhoff
- ED & F Mann (Israel)
- HSBC
- BAe Systems
- Berwin Leighton Paisner
- Barclays Israel
- GSK
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Meeting inward investors
While in Israel, Dominic met with potential and existing inward investors.
In his speech to the companies Dominic stressed the importance that the UK places on inward investment from Israel. He followed with a Question and Answers (Q&A) session. The companies included:
- eToro
- Plus500
- Comsec Consulting
- AposTherapy
- GetTaxi
- Interlligent
- Athena Smartcard
- Ezbob
- Hagshama Fund
- Sabon
- Gooogale
- Standard Textile Industries
- Innovid
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
Dominic’s visit in Israel ended with a call on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the world’s leading generic drug maker.
Teva employs 1,300 people in the UK and boasts that one in 6 prescriptions dispensed Over the Counter (OTC) in the UK is supplied by Teva.
Dominic discussed with the Teva team their decision to carry out more Research and Development (R&D) in the UK and the expansion of their manufacturing and R&D site in Runcorn.
Contacts
Contact the UKTI team in Israel for help in developing your exports, or in locating your business in the UK.