Gov. Gary R. Herbert is leading a delegation of 19 Utah companies on a trade mission to Amman, Jordan and a trade mission to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel this week. Jordan and Israel are gateway countries for businesses interested in expanding into Middle Eastern markets.
“Both Jordan and Israel have strong science and technology sectors that align well with the innovative technologies coming out of Utah,” said Derek B. Miller, president and CEO of World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah). “The focus of the trade mission to Amman, Jordan and the trade mission to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel is to help businesses make meaningful connections that will lead to new customers and opportunities for collaboration in the Middle East.”
The trade missions, spanning Oct. 20-27, include business visits, matchmaking meetings networking receptions, Foreign Direct Investment events and a visit to the Port of Ashod. During the port visit the delegation will explore the benefits of the port to Israel’s economy and learn about a Utah company doing business with the port.
“Jordan and Israel are longtime trade partners, especially with the state’s technology and life science industries,” said Val Hale, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). “This trade mission will strengthen those relationships and create new opportunities for Utah companies to expand globally.”
Jordan was selected as a location for a trade mission because of its strategic location as the crossroads of the Middle East-North Africa region. Utah’s top exports to Jordan in 2016 included fabricated metal products, computer and electronic products and chemicals. The U.S. has a Free Trade Agreement with Jordan that has lowered the barriers to entry for Utah companies.
Israel is also an important trading partner for Utah. Since signing a Free Trade Agreement in 1985, U.S.-Israel trade has grown eight-fold and nearly all trade tariffs have been removed. Israel is a global center for hi-tech design and research and development, which could mean opportunities for collaboration between Israeli companies and Utah’s own Silicon Slopes companies. Some of Utah’s top exports to Israel include computer and electronic products, machinery and transportation equipment.
The trade missions, supported by WTC Utah, GOED, Zions Bank, U.S. Commercial Service and the U.S. Small Business Administration, are comprised of private and public organizations from various sectors.
Businesses participating in the trade mission to Amman, Jordan and the trade mission to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel:
- 40 North Labs/Specialty Imaging
- Alex.Brown
- Allen Communications
- BiologiQ, Inc.
- BNA Consulting
- Campbell Scientific
- CogniTech Corporation
- Deseret Management Corporation
- Design Criteria, Inc.
- GlobalSim, Inc.
- Intermountain Healthcare
- inWhatLanguage
- Law Offices of Thomas N. Jacobson
- Quest Solutions & Teamtonics Inc.
- Red Leaf Resources
- University of Utah, School of Business
- USTAR
- Utah Economic Israel Council
- Zions Bank
