Business, academic and Jewish leaders from Maryland have accompanied Governor Larry Hogan, along with some administration officials.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has started a weeklong trade mission to Israel.
Hogan arrived in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
The governor met with executives at Enzymotec and its subsidiary VAYA Pharma, which recently relocated its US headquarters to the University of Maryland BioPark.
Business, academic and Jewish leaders from Maryland have accompanied the governor, along with some administration officials. About 25 private-sector representatives have made the trip.
Maryland officials will have private meetings with business leaders, as well as attend public events and speaking engagements.
Hogan is scheduled to be a keynote speaker at a conference on the Tel Aviv University campus aimed at helping high-tech entrepreneurs connect with investors and economic development support services.
Maryland governors have been making trade trips to Israel for decades.
Hogan’s predecessor, Gov. Martin O’Malley, made two trips during his two terms in Annapolis and another as mayor of Baltimore. Former Gov. Robert Ehrlich led a trade mission in 2003, and former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele led a trip in 2005. Former Gov. Parris Glendening also led a trade mission to Israel in 1997. Former Gov. William Donald Schaefer went as well.
“It’s very competitive among the states to attract Israeli companies,” Barry Bogage, executive director of the Maryland Israel Development Center, said. “There are about probably 12 or 15 states that have economic development representation in Israel, and so in order to be in the game, we’ve got to go. We’ve got to be represented, and there’s nobody better than the governor to do that.”
By: AP
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