New Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker is planning a trip to Israel for his first international trade mission. The delegation of about of 40 businessmen and 12 government officials, including Baker, is scheduled for a six day visit between December 9th to the 14th. The trip will focus on a potential business hub of Israeli cyber security and digital health firms looking to expand into the US.
Baker’s visit comes on the heels of a successful visit by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan which also seek concentrated on business opportunities with Israel in the areas of high-tech technologies.
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The Republican governor is partnering with the New England-Israel Business Council for the trip, with the support of Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
Mike Vallarelli, the Governor’s deputy chief of staff and director of the mission, said in a statement, “The Baker administration believes that Massachusetts can become a more attractive option for expanding businesses in these promising sectors, but we must work hard to attract them.”
According to a report released in June by the New England-Israel Business Council, more than 200 Israeli-founded businesses were based around Boston in 2015. These businesses employed 9, 000 people, generated $9.3 billion in revenue and represented 4 percent of Massachusetts’ gross domestic product.
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Israeli-founded companies brought $9.3 billion to Boston, Massachusetts
Government officials whi will make the trip include Katie Stebbins, assistant secretary for innovation, technology and entrepreneurship at the Department of Housing and Economic Development; Louis Gutierrez, executive director of the Massachusetts Health Connector; Mark Nunnelly, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Information Technology; and Hans Olson, a senior adviser for anti-terrorism and cyber security at the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
