Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation hosted Yaron Sideman, Israel’s consul general to the Mid-Atlantic Region, on June 13^th for an informative discussion regarding economic development.

The meeting was arranged by Pete Reinke, LVEDC’s vice president of business development, and Barry Halper, president of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.

“We are honored to have hosted the consul general to discuss how LVEDC can facilitate growth among existing Israeli companies and recruit new projects to our region,” said Reinke. “We believe there is vast potential in developing ties between Israel and the Lehigh Valley.”

Sideman discussed how his consulate is structured to encourage economic development. A road show scheduled for July will showcase Israeli companies who specialize in homeland security.

“We encourage trade delegations to Israel and we tailor them to the needs of the composition of a particular delegation,” Sideman noted. Just last year, Cuyahoga County, Ohio Executive Ed Fitzgerald visited Israel on a trade mission that produced “great activity,” according to Sideman. The City of Akron eventually invested in an incubator in Israel.

“As a result, several very significant Israeli companies that matured set up shop in Akron and have commercialized – and now do their marketing and development in that city,” Sideman said.

More than 600 Israeli companies maintain a physical presence along the eastern U.S. seaboard.

“They all contribute in terms of both jobs and revenue to the states and areas they are located,” noted Sideman.

One such company is Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries, the world’s largest maker of generic drugs. Teva has operations in 13 states and the District of Columbia. The company employs more than 1,700 people in Sideman’s region alone.

Sideman began his tenure as consul general last August 30; he is the highest-ranking Israeli diplomatic official representing Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Kentucky and southern New Jersey. Israel maintains one embassy and nine consulates in the United States.

LVEDC intends to continue its dialog with Sideman and any Israeli companies that express interest in locating in Lehigh Valley.

Sideman will provide a more in-depth look at his work in an upcoming LVEDC newsletter.