Tuesday brought more beautiful weather and a full schedule of company meetings in Israel.

We were up early and at it again pitching Michigan during a breakfast meeting in Jerusalem with technology company Powermat.  Imagine being able to lay your cell phone on your desk or put your Ipod on the counter at home to charge them.  This cutting-edge company has created an electric mat that will do just that – on your desk, nightstand, conference room table, or even your wall.  The company’s goal is to manage energy and eliminate waste, which matches Michigan’s energy goals perfectly.  Powermat is collaborating with a hi-tech Michigan-based company and is scheduled for a January announcement in Michigan with the potential to create several hundred new jobs.
 

From there, we left Jerusalem for an afternoon of meetings in Haifa — a city north of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean.  On our journey, we passed through the Carmel Mountains — a wine-growing region also known for its many artist colonies.  Haifa was breathtaking — situated high above the sea. Anyone who loves wine country in California would feel right at home here.
 
Our meetings in Haifa were with companies in our targeted sectors to diversify our economy.  They included Senso Optics, a homeland security and defense company that creates technology like lenses used for airport security, border control, and sensors for day and night vision.  And Multi Gene Vascular Systems — a life sciences company that is doing work with gene therapy to remove blockage and open up arteries in the legs and heart.  They are looking at having a presence in Michigan in the next 6-12 months.  And we met with HBR Labs, a web-based software company that has committed to opening their Michigan operation by the end of this year.  These companies and their interest in investment in Michigan means jobs and growth at home. 
 
Our last meeting of the day was with the #1 homeland security and defense company in Israel, Elbit Israel.  It’s a $2.4 billion dollar company that makes up 40 percent of all the homeland security and defense-based sales in the country.  The company already has a U.S. presence – Elbit North America – and their chairman, Joe Parini who is from Grand Rapids, helped to coordinat this meeting for us.  It was a productive meeting, and we had the chance to talk about all of Michigan’s advantages, including TACOM and our auto industry.  As Elbit North America considers its next expansion, we’ll continue to make the case for why Michigan is the perfect place for it to be.
 
Now, it’s off to our final business event in Israel at the home of U.S. Ambassador to Israel James Cunningham.  Ambassador Cunningham has graciously offered to host a reception for business and industry leaders as well as a number of Michiganians who are in the country.
 
Tomorrow, we head to Jordan where we’ll continue to talk about all that Michigan has to offer companies looking to invest and grow internationally.

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