Consider Cincinnati! Cincinnati USA Partnership Creating U.S.-Israel Business Collaborations
"The Israeli business ecosystem and its entrepreneurial spirit have been leading the country to amazing economic and business results. Cincinnati USA, a global business hub, seeks to merge the innovative spirit of our two vibrant business communities" said Tammy Riddle, Director of Economic Development at the Cincinnati USA Partnership.
Cincinnati is a dynamic business region centrally-located in the Midwest with much to offer Israeli companies. As the Branding Capital of the World, Cincinnati has a diverse business ecosystem that focuses on several key industry clusters which include consumer products, biohealth, brand development, advanced energy and IT. Cincinnati USA is the headquarters of 10 Fortune 500 companies and more than 450 foreign-owned firms have opened operations in the city – a key reason: Cincinnati is ranked #1 as the least costly place to do business in the U.S. (KPMG Guide to International Business Location Costs 2012).
The intensive business ties between Cincinnati and Israel began with a Cincinnati Partnership visit to Israel in 2011. Cincinnati established a permanent representation office in Israel through the local business development firm, Ridgeback Business Development Ltd. Marc Coles, CEO, of Ridgeback noted that "Cincinnati is extremely active in Israel; three business delegations from Cincinnati have already visited Israel and we are now working on the fourth mission planned for May 2014 to take part in the ‘Israel Innovation Conference,’ the combined biomed and high-tech exhibition & conference. We are building the foundation for Cincinnati-Israel joint ventures in various fields with the goal of not only creating business relationships, but also providing the support necessary to build successful long-term collaborations.”
For foreign economic development organizations active in Israel, there is great value and importance in partnering with local multipliers and working with government authorities such as the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Commercial Attaches in the United States. It is also essential to create strong and fruitful working relationships with local economic and business organizations such as the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, AMCHAM and the Manufacturers Association of Israel.
The cooperation with the FICC was launched following the signing of a Memorandum of Understating between the organizations, followed by a visit of Mr. Uriel Lynn, President of the FICC, to Cincinnati during August 2013. The visit included a high level seminar and networking event with local businesses on "Doing Business in Israel" and meetings with leading Cincinnati business people and community leaders.
The Cincinnati USA Partnership and Ridgeback continue to heighten the awareness in both the Israeli and Cincinnati business communities about the great potential for collaboration, entrepreneurship and mutual business opportunities. Working together they facilitate ways to bridge the gap and lay the foundation for these two innovative business communities to create added value by working closely together.
(http://www.cincinnatiusa.org/, http://www.ridgeback-busdev.com/).
In addition to Cincinnari, Dayton and Fairfax County are two additional local entities with representation in Israel.
To contact FICC International Trade Relations Division - click here
