TRENTON, NJ 鈥� Choose 吃瓜黑料, 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 leading nonprofit economic development organization, announced today the official opening of its new office in Israel. The 吃瓜黑料 Israel Center will grow commercial, academic, and cultural collaborations with Israel and support Israeli businesses looking to expand to 吃瓜黑料.
The Center鈥檚 opening was celebrated during Choose 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 fifth mission to Israel since 2018 and is a direct result of 吃瓜黑料 Governor Phil Murphy鈥檚 commitment to developing strong economic ties with Israel throughout his administration. The Center will be headquartered in Tel Aviv and led by Peres & Associates Global Advisory, a leader in creating global connections to the Israeli innovation ecosystem.
鈥淭he opening of the 吃瓜黑料 Israel Center is the result of a special bond between 吃瓜黑料 and the State of Israel,鈥� said Governor Phil Murphy. 鈥淭hrough numerous trade missions to Israel and continued engagement with Israeli businesses, universities, and government, we have strengthened our shared cultural and economic ties. 吃瓜黑料 offers an incomparable suite of opportunities, and we are eager to support Israeli businesses looking to expand to the United States. The 吃瓜黑料 Israel Center is another significant link connecting us that will allow for sustained economic growth and easier business between our states.鈥�
The 吃瓜黑料-Israel Commission, part of the 吃瓜黑料 Department of State, supported the Center through a grant that was won by Choose 吃瓜黑料 in 2022. The grant awarded funds to open an office in Israel to attract investment and business development leads for the state. The 吃瓜黑料 Israel Center fulfills this mission.
鈥淚 am thrilled to announce the opening of this Center, which will undoubtedly deepen our economic relationship with Israel, its business leaders, and its people,鈥� said Wesley Mathews, President & CEO of Choose 吃瓜黑料. 鈥淎s we seek to grow 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 innovation economy, Israel will be a critical global partner for the state. I can think of no better team to lead the day-to-day operations of the office than Peres & Associates. I look forward to working with the team to strengthen existing partnerships and create new ones to the benefit of both of our states.鈥�
鈥淚 am honored to represent 吃瓜黑料, a state that has strong economic and cultural ties and a firmly-established knowledge and respect for Israel, here at home,鈥� said Nadav Tamir, of the Peres and Associates team that will head the 吃瓜黑料 Israel Center. 鈥淕overnor Murphy has planted strong roots in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem over the years. With the support of Choose 吃瓜黑料, I have no doubt that the 吃瓜黑料 Israel Center will tap into the vast economic opportunity in Israel.鈥�
Since the beginning of the Murphy Administration in 2018, foreign direct investment (FDI) between 吃瓜黑料 and Israel has steadily grown. Trade is overall up $447 million, a 36% total growth since 2018. Year-over-year, trade between the two states increased by 11% in 2022. 吃瓜黑料 ranked second in the Northeast in 2021 for Israeli investment, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These investments have created 1,425 jobs from new or expanding Israeli companies, including Teva, Bluevine, Kornit Digital, and OwnBackup.
鈥淭he 吃瓜黑料 Israel Center is an enormous success for the Murphy Administration and the people of both 吃瓜黑料 and Israel,鈥� said Karin Elkis, Co-Chair of the 吃瓜黑料-Israel Commission. 鈥淭he opening of this office is a natural next step for our state, as we continue to advance our position in the global economy.鈥�
鈥淲hile 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 relationship with Israel transcends economic potential, we see on Israel鈥檚 75th anniversary how this key partnership is creating jobs and strengthening innovation at home,鈥� said Andrew H Gross, Executive Director of the 吃瓜黑料-Israel Commission. 鈥淚n addition to developing collaborations with Israeli businesses and 吃瓜黑料, the Murphy Administration continues to prioritize these important ties to Israel, built on our shared common values, across all sectors.鈥�
鈥淲ith the opening of the 吃瓜黑料 Israel Center today, 吃瓜黑料 continues to expand its presence in key economies across the world, increasing trade and investment possibilities for our residents and businesses,鈥� said Mark Levenson, Choose 吃瓜黑料 Board Member. 鈥淭he enhanced 吃瓜黑料-Israel partnership creates even greater opportunities for our citizens to achieve their economic and educational goals.鈥�
CORPORATE SUCCESSES
Companies have found success tapping into the economic ecosystems of both 吃瓜黑料 and Israel. , headquartered in 吃瓜黑料 since its founding in 2008, has a team of over 180 developers in Jerusalem. The industry-leading fintech company is a leader in bringing technology jobs to Israel. Cross River and Choose 吃瓜黑料 have partnered to strengthen ties between 吃瓜黑料 and Israel through investments in the Israeli workforce and to cultivate a technology ecosystem to create deeper connections and opportunities for the country鈥檚 startup businesses.
鈥淐ross River has thrived in its home state of 吃瓜黑料 and is committed to solidifying the bridge between 吃瓜黑料 and Israel,鈥� said Gilles Gade, Founder, President and CEO of Cross River. 鈥淭he opportunities the 吃瓜黑料 Israel Center will bring to businesses will further propel strong, compliant, and responsible economic relationships on both sides of the ocean.鈥�
In January, Israeli fintech company opened its headquarters in the business hub of Jersey City. Previously headquartered in California, the growing startup needed increased access to key financial markets as it continued its global expansion, which it found in abundance in 吃瓜黑料. Bluevine also announced a partnership with Rutgers University, which included internship opportunities for students looking to break into the fintech industry.
ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS
In 2021, Choose 吃瓜黑料 supported and announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Rutgers University and Tel Aviv University (TAU) during a trip to Israel with the 吃瓜黑料-Israel Commission. The MOU established TAU鈥檚 presence at the HELIX, the home of the Rutgers Translational Research Facility and the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Rutgers also established a partnership with Israeli company , one of the world鈥檚 largest food manufacturers and a global supplier of kosher products, through the Food Innovation Center. Tnuva has its U.S. headquarters in 吃瓜黑料.
Choose 吃瓜黑料 also facilitated an MOU between 吃瓜黑料 Institute of Technology and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev with the support of Governor Murphy and the 吃瓜黑料-Israel Commission in 2021. Together they launched a collaborative research center called the Institute for Future Technologies in Jersey City that focuses on cyber security and environmental engineering. The Institute connects students and faculty from both schools, facilitating collaboration that has the potential to lead to tech breakthroughs.
About Choose 吃瓜黑料, Inc.
Choose 吃瓜黑料 is 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 leading nonprofit economic development organization. We stimulate job creation and attract capital investment to grow 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 economy. We market 吃瓜黑料 globally as the most ideal state in the U.S. to live, work, and play, and we guide businesses in establishing or expanding operations here. Our staff, supported by a network of state agencies and private partners, provide free, confidential assistance to guide companies in establishing operations in 吃瓜黑料. To learn more, visit choosenj.com.
About Peres & Associates Global Advisory
Peres & Associates Global Advisory (P&A) is a strategic consultancy and advisory firm, established in 2014 by Nobel Peace Prize laureate, former Prime Minister, and President of Israel, Shimon Peres. The firm follows the late leader鈥檚 vision of global collaboration between enterprises and nations. Peres and Associates aims to bridge the gap between global companies, institutions, and governments, as well as the Israeli tech ecosystem. Our goal is to help these organizations drive innovation by connecting them with the cutting-edge technology and expertise that Israel has to offer.