THE ISRAEL-CANADA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY NEWSLETTER
Issue No. 1 November 2003

CONTENTS:

New appointments
Events
Report from the Israeli Embassy in Ottawa
What’s new in the Chamber
Press headlines
Site Of The Month

To subscribe and unsubscribe please sent mail to info@israel-canada.org

Hello everybody.

At long last the first issue of our newsletter has been published.
The newsletter will be produced once a month with the aim of updating members of the chamber on all matters pertaining to Israel and Canada and I hope that in future the newsletter will become the principal instrument for updating all those involved and who take an interest in Israel-Canada affairs.
 
On behalf of all our members I would like to thank Gedalia Heilpern who has retired after 11 years as Executive Director of the Chamber, a post that he filled devotedly and with courteous initiative.

I hope that you will find the newsletter interesting and I shall be delighted to receive feedbacks and any suggestions for improvements and also for any information you think should be brought to the notice of readers. You can assist us by distributing the newsletter and sending us electronic mail addresses of persons who may find the newsletter to be of interest.

  If you do not wish to continue receiving the newsletter please send a request to
 info@israel-canada.org  to be removed from the mailing list.

Amos Cohen
General Manager

SPECIAL ANNOUNCMENTS

 The Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor has moved to new offices at
 5 Bank Israel St., Genery Building, Kiriat Ben Gurion, Jerusalem.
Tel: 972-2-6662000

 An Israeli company looking for distributor in Canada, for more details click here

NEW APPOINTMENTS: 

New Canadian Ambassador – Mr. Donald C. Sinclair has taken up his post as Canadian Ambassador and we wish him success in his post and speedy adaptation to the heat in Israel.

Ms. Suzanne Szukits, the Canadian commercial attaché has returned to duty after an absence of several months. Catherine Gosselin, who replaced Suzanne in her absence, has returned to Canada.

Mr. Ephraim Shoham has replaced Benjamin Noy, who completed a second term as Israel’s commercial attaché in Toronto.  His departure was highlighted at a ceremony in Toronto attended by companies and public figures. 10 companies which had made great contributions to Israeli exports and investments in Israel were honoured at the ceremony.

EVENTS 

Promotion of Israeli food exports to Canada
A campaign organized by the Israel Export Institute and the commercial attachés offices in the U.S.A. and Canada over a period of several months, culminated in an event held on September 3^rd in Toronto, in which some 30 Israeli companies exhibited their products before Canadian buyers.  All the companies participating made commercial contacts and there is already an increase in the volume of exports to the USA.  Information on the campaign may be found at http://www.finefoodsisrael.com/

A delegation of leading Canadian businessmen is due to arrive in Israel in mid November as part of the General Assembly mission to Israel.

Visit of the Israeli Minister of Industry, Commerce and Labor
Mr. Olmert is due to visit Toronto and Montreal in early November.  The itinerary has not yet been finalized; we are endeavoring to make use of his visit to launch a revived sister chamber in Toronto.

Air Canada is offering an additional fifth weekly flight on the Israel-Canada route commencing November 1^st 2003.

Mission of Israeli construction corporations
The Israeli commercial attaché and the Export Institute are organizing this mission to Canada. The intention is to hold a seminar and reception in Toronto and Montreal on the 17^th and 19^th November respectively.  The organizer will be Abraham Israeli of the Export Institute.

Meetings at international trade exhibitions
In view of the current difficulty in bringing Canadian companies to Israel, the Canadian Embassy has taken the initiative of organizing such meetings at international exhibitions held in Europe. 
ANUGA – in Cologne, Germany from 11^th – 15^th October 2003
ITU Telecom – in Geneva, Switzerland from 12^th – 18^th October 2003
MEDICA – in Dusseldorf, Germany from 19^th – 22^nd November 2003.  The contact person is Mona Mansour-Ashkar.

A delegation of Canadian Jews and Christians visited Israel and participated in the Jerusalem march during the Succoth (Tabernacles) festival.

A delegation from the Canadian Space Agency will visit Israel during the first quarter of 2004.  The Israeli Space Agency, which together with the economic attaché prepared the outline agreement for Israeli-Canadian cooperation in this field, will host the delegation.

REPORT FROM THE ISRAELI EMBASSY IN OTTAWA

The Israeli Embassy in Ottawa has launched a new website:

www.embassyofisrael.ca

The Embassy includes an economics department headed by the deputy head.
  They are willing to assist members of our chamber at all times.

Agricultural research
On May 20^th 2003 the chief scientists of the Volcani Institute and the Canadian Ministry of Agriculture met in order to promote cooperation in agricultural research and development. A seminar on agricultural research with participation of scientists from both countries is due to be held in the forthcoming months.

The Province of Manitoba, a rising star in the field of medical technology and biotechnology, is strengthening its ties with Israel.  The provincial Prime Minister Mr. Doer recently visited Israel and following upon this visit, the Minister of Industry Trade and Mineral Wealth of Manitoba was due to visit Israel on October 20^th.

Visits to Canada by Israeli Senior Officials

Yoram Ben-Zeev, senior deputy director for North America in the Israeli Foreign Ministry dispatched a personal letter from Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom to his Canadian counterpart.  In the letter Israel expressed a desire for Canada to assist in the peace process.  In addition matters of mutual interest were given consideration, including increasing trade between the two countries (July 2003).

Avi Har-Even, Director of the Israeli Space Agency led a mission to Montreal in cooperation with representatives of associated industries. In the course of the meeting between the two agencies a declaration of intent was signed for cooperation in the field of space matters (July 2003).  

The Assistant to the Speaker of the Knesset was the guest of the Canadian    Parliament.  The visit was designed to enable him to become acquainted with the broadcasts from the Canadian Parliament and Senate in view of the impending change of the television coverage in Israel.

Israeli Culture in Canada

The Israeli Bat-Sheva Dance Troupe completed its series of performances in Montreal and Toronto (October 2003).

A selection of the hidden scrolls and biblical treasures was recently exhibited in Montreal and in December will be shown in the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa.

Pinhas Zuckerman, Director of the Orchestra at the National Arts Center in Ottawa hosted the Israeli virtuoso, Yitzhak Perlman, at a joint concert in order to raise funds in support of young musicians (October 2003).

The Kfar Saba youth orchestra played in the National Gallery of Canada in the course of a tour of performances in North America (August 2003).

WHAT’S NEW IN THE CHAMBER

Gedalia Heilpern has retired from his post as Executive Director of the Chamber.  Amos Cohen has been appointed in his place.

At the A.G.M. of the Chamber held on 7^th August five new Vice Presidents were elected: Aviram Balzar will engage in public relations, David Ungar – who is the honorary treasurer. Alex Aronowich and Eyal Bar-Ad.  The Meeting approved the Annual Accounts and also a number of amendments to the Chamber’s Articles of Association.

The Chamber is arranging meetings of chamber members with the Canadian Ambassador and Economic Attaché.  The meetings will be held in small groups at the Embassy. Invitations to take part in the meetings will shortly be dispatched to members.

Preparation of the annual magazine of the chamber has commenced.  Alex Aronowich is coordinating the preparations.

A seminar is being planed on “How to do business with Canada”.  A detailed notice will be sent separately.

It has been agreed to cooperate with the Small Businesses Authority.  As result of this agreement businessmen will meet members of delegations arriving from Canada.

An Israel-Vancouver contacts bureau has been set up.  It will operate within the framework of the chamber and is headed by Advocate Tzahi Segal.

ISRAELI PRESS HEADLINES: (by courtesy of “Ifat”) 

80% declining trend in sales of apartments abroad to Israelis (Globes October 9^th).

Ruth Ben-Tzur will manage Air Canada 9 additional branches in Mediterranian countries, the Middle East and Africa (Maariv 9^th October).

Lumanis corp. which develops laser systems for medical and cosmetic purposes, sold its laser industrial division, called SPECTRON to the GSI.  Lumanis corp. of Canada for $ 6.3 Million (Globes Aug 28th) 

Spectronicx Corp. which develops fire control and detection systems, is negotiating the sale of Know-How and licensing for production to a Canadian company (Ha'aretz, Aug. 22nd)

During the first half of 2003 a 3 % increase in industrial export to Canada was recorded. As appose to a raise in total industrial export of 4.5% (Globes Aug. 22nd)

Stephan Waknin is endeavoring to raise $ 7 Million to set up "Blue Slice", a new company he established in Canada, dealing with third generation internet protocol  (Ha'aretz 19th Aug)

"Gazit Glob" announced the purchase of two commercial centers in Canada, via the subsidiary company "First Capital". (Maariv 8th Sept)

A kosher food exhibition will be held in Toronto in May 2004. The Stier group organizes the exhibition. (Ha'aretz 24 Sept)

The Canadian IST corp. has obtained a contract of $ 7.6 Million for the provision and construction in

Ashkelon of two cooling towers for sewage disposal treatment.

Ormat have received approval from the Alberta Energy and Utility Board, and legislative assent from the Province of Alberta to proceed with the $ 3.0 – Billion Long Lake oil sands project.

SITE OF THE MONTH 

The OECD website is a mine of information on Canada and Israel.  OECD follows the economic situation, performs research and thoroughly analyses statistical data.  The new Economic Survey – Canada 2003 comprises nearly 200 pages (price $35).  A summary of the survey is to be found on the website, free of charge.  A link to the website may be found in Related Links of the chamber’s website.  Incidentally, the survey is most positive. 

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