Choose New Jersey Opens Office in Israel

On Mar 21, 2023

Choose New Jersey, the state’s leading nonprofit economic development organization, announced today the official opening of its new office in Israel. The New Jersey Israel Center was created to grow commercial, academic, and cultural collaborations with Israel and support Israeli businesses looking to expand to New Jersey.

The Center’s opening was celebrated during Choose New Jersey’s fifth mission to Israel since 2018 and is a direct result of Gov. Phil Murphy’s commitment to developing strong economic ties with Israel throughout his administration. The Center will be headquartered in Tel Aviv and led by Peres & Associates Global Advisory, a leader in creating global connections to the Israeli innovation ecosystem.

“The opening of the New Jersey Israel Center is the result of a special bond between New Jersey and the State of Israel,” said Murphy. “Through numerous trade missions to Israel and continued engagement with Israeli businesses, universities and government, we have strengthened our shared cultural and economic ties. New Jersey offers an incomparable suite of opportunities, and we are eager to support Israeli businesses looking to expand to the United States. The New Jersey Israel Center is another significant link connecting us that will allow for sustained economic growth and easier business between our states.”

The New Jersey-Israel Commission, part of the New Jersey Department of State, supported the Center through a grant that was won by Choose New Jersey in 2022. The grant awarded funds to open an office in Israel to attract investment and business development leads for the state. The New Jersey Israel Center fulfills this mission.

“I am thrilled to announce the opening of this Center, which will undoubtedly deepen our economic relationship with Israel, its business leaders, and its people,” said Wesley Mathews, president & CEO of Choose New Jersey. “As we seek to grow New Jersey’s innovation economy, Israel will be a critical global partner for the state. I can think of no better team to lead the day-to-day operations of the office than Peres & Associates. I look forward to working with the team to strengthen existing partnerships and create new ones to the benefit of both of our states.”

“I am honored to represent New Jersey, a state that has strong economic and cultural ties and a firmly-established knowledge and respect for Israel, here at home,” said Nadav Tamir, of the Peres and Associates team that will head the New Jersey Israel Center. “Governor Murphy has planted strong roots in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem over the years. With the support of Choose New Jersey, I have no doubt that the New Jersey Israel Center will tap into the vast economic opportunity in Israel.”

Since the beginning of the Murphy Administration in 2018, foreign direct investment (FDI) between New Jersey and Israel has steadily grown. Trade is overall up $447 million, a 36% total growth since 2018. Year-over-year, trade between the two states increased by 11% in 2022. New Jersey ranked second in the Northeast in 2021 for Israeli investment, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These investments have created 1,425 jobs from new or expanding Israeli companies, including Teva, Bluevine, Kornit Digital, and OwnBackup.

“The New Jersey Israel Center is an enormous success for the Murphy Administration and the people of both New Jersey and Israel,” said Karin Elkis, co-chair of the New Jersey-Israel Commission. “The opening of this office is a natural next step for our state, as we continue to advance our position in the global economy.”

“While New Jersey’s relationship with Israel transcends economic potential, we see on Israel’s 75th anniversary how this key partnership is creating jobs and strengthening innovation at home,” said Andrew H. Gross, executive director of the New Jersey-Israel Commission. “In addition to developing collaborations with Israeli businesses and New Jersey, the Murphy Administration continues to prioritize these important ties to Israel, built on our shared common values, across all sectors.”

“With the opening of the New Jersey Israel Center today, New Jersey continues to expand its presence in key economies across the world, increasing trade and investment possibilities for our residents and businesses,” said Mark Levenson, Choose New Jersey Board Member. “The enhanced New Jersey-Israel partnership creates even greater opportunities for our citizens to achieve their economic and educational goals.”

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