Gov. Nixon to Lead Missouri Delegation on Trade Mission to Israel

Press Release

Gov. Jay Nixon announced today that he will lead a delegation of Missouri government leaders on a trade mission to Israel from March 21-28. The trade mission will focus on strengthening partnerships, increasing exports and recruiting new high-tech foreign investment to the Show-Me State.

In addition to being a staunch U.S. ally, Israel has also built a reputation as a global hub of entrepreneurship and innovation, with the third highest number of companies listed on the NASDAQ and more startups per capita than any other country in the world. In 2014, Gov. Nixon signed legislation establishing a Missouri trade office in Israel and this week's trade mission will further strengthen Missouri's ties with this important economic and strategic ally.

"Over the past few years, Missouri has become a globally-recognized hub of high-tech jobs and entrepreneurship, and recently led the nation in new business creation," said Gov. Nixon. "This trade mission is an opportunity to strengthen Missouri's ties with a vital U.S. ally, encourage even more high-tech investment in our state and bolster Missouri's reputation as a leader in technology and innovation worldwide."

In Jerusalem, the Governor and members of the delegation will meet with high-level government officials, includingPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former President Shimon Peres, and H.E. Ambassador Alon Ushpiz, Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Gov. Nixon will also meet with Mobileye Vision Technologies, a global leader in advanced collision avoidance systems, and with leaders of the Jewish Agency for Israel about their humanitarian efforts, which are supported by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.

The delegation will then travel to Tel Aviv, where the Governor will meet with U.S. Ambassador Daniel Shapiro as well as companies in Israel's world-renowned tech sector including Amdocs, a software company headquartered in Chesterfield. The Governor will also participate in a forum hosted by Israel's Startup Nation Central about the country's booming startup ecosystem and hear presentations by a number of Israel-based cyber security companies.

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