December 9, 2014

Governor Pence Leading Cultural & Jobs Mission to Israel Over Holidays

INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Pence will depart on a nine-day trip to Israel later this month, which will include visits to cultural sites and a three-day jobs mission to meet with government and business leaders to expand economic ties between Indiana and Israel. 

“Israel is a global entrepreneurial hotspot,” said Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce. “Israelis are launching new businesses at a tremendous rate, and that’s triggering economic and job growth that’s primed to expand to the United States. With Indiana’s strength in life sciences, technology and advanced manufacturing, our mission is to make sure that Israeli leaders know that Indiana’s business climate is innovative and always growing—similar to the business climate they’ve grown in Israel.” 

During the trip, the Governor will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government officials, as well as leaders of Israeli companies and potential investors in key innovation sectors, including life sciences, technology and advanced manufacturing, in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. He will visit executives at aerospace technology developer Israel Aerospace Industries and automotive electronics manufacturer Taditel, which has operations in Anderson, Indiana. The Governor will also give remarks at an event hosted by the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce. 

Israel is the only country with free trade agreements with both the United States and the European community, and more than 70 Hoosier companies do business there, including Magnavox, Alcoa, Allied-Singal, Biomet and ITT Aerospace. In 2013, Indiana exports to Israel totaled more than $57.2 million. In addition, the Binational Science Foundation, an independent association that promotes scientific relations between Israel and the United States, has provided grants of more than $3.5 million since 1996 to Indiana higher education institutions, including Purdue University, Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame. 

“Hoosiers have cherished our relationship with the people of Israel for generations. As we look ahead, deepening our ties with the people, businesses and state of Israel remains a commitment that will empower us as partners,” said Pence. “Grounded in our shared values and our hope for the future, today our friendship is highlighted by a remarkable entrepreneurial spirit shared between our two nations. That spirit is painting a landscape today with companies ready to cross oceans to further our bond together. My hope is that we will demonstrate firsthand our commitment to strengthening the Indiana-Israel relationship through this trip and beyond.” 

Secretary of Commerce Smith and Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) staff will accompany the Governor for the three-day economic development portion of the trip, building practical connections between Indiana and Israel in business, academia and research and development. The cost of the state delegation is being covered through private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation. The IEDC’s contractor in Israel is assisting with trip arrangements. 

The Governor’s family will travel with him to Israel to celebrate Christmas in Jerusalem and also tour a number of Christian holy sites. The trip expenses of Governor Pence and First Lady Karen Pence are being covered by Christians United for Israel; no tax dollars will be used. The Governor and First Lady will personally pay for the travel expenses of their three children. 

This will be Pence’s fifth international trade mission as Governor. He led his first gubernatorial jobs mission to Japan in September 2013, followed by trade missions to Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada this year. 

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NOTE: Details about the Governor’s travel itinerary for the economic development portion of the trip will be released at a later date.

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December 23, 2014

Schedule for Governor Pence’s Mission to Israel

INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Pence departed this week on a nine-day trip to Israel, which includes visits to cultural sites and a three-day economic development mission to bring jobs and investment to Indiana.

 

“Hoosiers and Israelis have a bond connecting us in education, business, culture and values. With this trip we’ll focus on deepening those relationships, looking at ways to nurture shared growth and success,” said Pence. “As friends, we’re stronger together, and together our shared entrepreneurial spirit and drive can lead to opportunities that are boundless.”

 

This will be Pence’s fifth international job-hunting mission as governor. In addition to Governor Pence, the state will be represented by Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith during the three-day economic development portion of the trip to expand economic ties between Indiana and Israel. The cost of the state delegation is being covered through private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation.

 

The Governor’s family will travel with him to Israel to celebrate the holidays and tour various holy sites. The trip expenses of Governor Pence and First Lady Karen Pence during the cultural day site visits are being covered by Christians United for Israel. The economic development portion of the trip is being covered by the Indiana Economic Development Foundation. The Governor and First Lady will personally pay for the travel expenses of their three children. The state of Indiana will pay for the Indiana State Police troopers traveling as the Governor’s security detail.

 

Below is the daily itinerary for the three-day economic development portion of the trip. The remainder of the trip will be personal time for the First Family and there will be no updates or schedules shared for this portion of the trip.

 

Monday, December 29

Governor Mike Pence will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem to discuss economic relations between Indiana and Israel, as well as Israeli Minister of Economy Naftali Bennett. He will also visit Yad Vashem and lay a wreath in a remembrance ceremony for Holocaust victims.

 

In the evening, the Governor will attend a dinner hosted by Israeli Ambassador Alon Ushpiz, Political Directorate & Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Tuesday, December 30

The Governor will host an Invest in Indiana breakfast seminar for companies interested in locating or growing in Indiana. He will also give remarks highlighting Indiana-Israel economic ties and U.S.-Israeli relations at a luncheon hosted by the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Tel Aviv.

 

He will also hold meetings with executives of aerospace technology developer Israel Aerospace Industries, Maj. Gen. Amos Gilad, director of the Political-Military Affairs Bureau at Israel’s Defense Ministry, and Michel Ben-Baruch, director of the International Defense Cooperation Agency of the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

 

In the evening, the Governor will participate in a symposium hosted by Republicans Abroad in Jerusalem.

 

Wednesday, December 31

The Governor will begin the day with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv for an economic briefing on the state of Israel’s economy. He will then meet with Israeli Chief Scientist Avi Hasson to discuss ways to foster innovation and entrepreneurship between Hoosier and Israeli life sciences and tech sectors. The Governor will also meet with leaders of Israeli plastic housewares maker Keter Plastics and automotive electronics designer Taditel, both of which have operations in Anderson, Ind.

 

Members of the delegation are:

 

Governor Mike Pence     

First Lady Karen Pence

Audrey Pence

Charlotte Pence

Michael Pence

Victor Smith, Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)

Steve Akard, IEDC

Katelyn Hancock, IEDC

Two members of the Governor’s security detail will also travel

 

Updates from the economic development portion of the Governor’s mission, including video clips and photos, will be posted throughout the trip here: http://www.in.gov/gov/Israel2014.htm.

Location Information: Statewide IN

Contact Information:
Name: Kara Brooks