Delaware governor heads to Israel to talk buisness

Delaware continues to build relationships with companies oversees to not only bring more attention to the sate but to attract new business. Gov. Jack Markell, D-Del., and a group of business leaders including the director of the Delaware Economic Development Office are now heading to Israel.

Thousands of Israeli-based businesses have incorporated in Delaware over the last decade. Most high-tech Israeli companies incorporated outside Israel are registered in Delaware. Foreign-owned companies are the fastest growing part of Delaware’s franchise tax revenue and Israel is one of the top countries.

According to Gov. Markell, there’s a significant growth of Israeli business and many companies have made the decision to locate in the United States therefore the goal is ids to make sure Delaware is on their radar screen.

“We’ll be visiting industries of innovation in Israel and certainly learn about their economic growth and we’re going to talk about how Delaware can fit into that framework,” said Markell.

Charlie Riordan, University of Delaware’s Vice Provost for Research will also travel with the governor to Israel to meet government leaders in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Riordan points to the school’s S.T.A.R (Science, Technology and Advanced Research) campus that focuses on a number of areas that align well with the high-tech strengths of Israel’s private sector.

“High-tech industries whether they come from Israel or whatever, throughout the world are looking to land in environments that include major research universities such as the University of Delaware as we provide access to innovation and a well trained workforce that’s necessary for such companies to thrive and grow,” said Riordan.

“Each of us knows that business is the art of building relationships and certainly having the opportunity to meet potential businesses and to advise them on the strengths of Delaware is a huge opportunity to us in going to Israel. We’ve seen the value of that through our trips to Chile, to Morocco, the governor’s trip to Germany,” said Alan Levin of Delaware Economic Development.