Secretary Jack Kemp to Lead U.S. Financial Services Delegation to Israel Hosted By Government Leaders

NEW YORK, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Government of Israel Economic Mission in New York and the America-Israel Friendship League today announced that the Government of Israel will be hosting a special delegation of representatives from the U.S. financial services sector to Israel starting Thursday, February 16, 2006. Leading the mission will be former U.S. Representative Jack Kemp.

The five-day visit, which will take place between Thursday, February 16 and Tuesday, February 21, 2006 will aim to increase opportunities for American financial institutions in Israel. The event will bring together representatives from American financial institutions with the Israeli government and business leaders. Topics to be discussed include the growing liberalization of Israel's economy and promoting American investment in the country.

"I am honored to be leading this mission to Israel, which marks the first time such an event is being held," said Jack Kemp, former vice presidential candidate, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development who served 18 years in U.S. Congress, and Founder and Chairman of Kemp Partners. "This is an unprecedented and timely opportunity for the people, government and economy of Israel and for the promotion of U.S. financial business in the Middle East and globally."

The visit comes at an opportune time in Israel's economic and political development. Over the last three years, Israel's economy has undergone a free market revolution including reform of its capital markets, reduced government spending, declining deficits, lowered personal and corporate tax rates and privatization of state-owned enterprises. The result is a booming economy that is poised for future expansion and growth.

"Leaders of U.S. companies will be introduced to the tremendous business opportunities in Israel, including such areas as high tech and traditional investments, privatization and infrastructure. They will meet with representatives of top U.S. companies that have successfully invested in Israel," said Zohar Peri, Economic Minister to North America, Government of Israel, Economic Mission.

"The mission led by Secretary Kemp, who is a Member of the Honorary Board of America-Israel Friendship League, is part of a major effort made by the League to strengthen and enhance the relations between Israel and the U.S. in all areas," said Ambassador Uri Bar-Ner of the America-Israel Friendship League.

The Delegation will meet with The Honorable Ehud Olmert, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Industry and Trade and The Honorable Shimon Peres, Deputy Prime Minister. They will also be meeting with Richard Jones, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, as well as private and professional groups in Israel, such as the America-Israel Friendship League, the U.S. Israel Chamber of Commerce, the Israel Venture Capital Association, Bank Leumi, a major bank recently privatized, Teva Pharmaceutical, the largest generic drug manufacturer world-wide, Shamrock, a U.S. Private Equity Fund in Israel, Markstone Capital Group, a U.S. Private Equity Fund in Israel, the Bank of Israel, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and the Israel Manufacturers Association.

The delegation was conceived by Zohar Peri, the Economic Minister to North America and Paul M. Kaplan, a Partner with Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP in their New York office and has been joined by Ambassador Uri Bar-Ner, formerly Israel's Ambassador to Turkey, and Special Advisor and Consultant to the President of the America-Israel Friendship League, Montieth M. Illingworth, who heads the office in New York of Gavin Anderson & Co., a specialist global financial and corporate communications and public affairs consultancy, and Gol Kalev, an investment banker and a member of the Board of America-Israel Friendship League.

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Source: Gov't of Israel

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