Some 650 businessmen and entrepreneurs will take part in a conference next week to encourage investors to finance Israeli businesses. The umbrella organization, ARISE, will hold a conference in Tel Aviv on Dec. 4 in Rishon Lezion and host foreign businessmen from a large array of countries.
ARISE, or the Alliance to Reinforce Israel's Security and Economy aims to promote trade in the Holy Land, particularly to bridge the gap between Israeli startups and international companies.
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The organization defines itself as a joint group of individuals and organizations who work together to help strengthen the Israeli economy and promote peaceful coexistence through encouraging dialogue and fostering economic development among various sectors in Israel, including in the Palestinian territories. ARISE also works to combat anti-Semitism and economic boycotts, highlighting both the diplomatic isolation of Israel and its delegitimization as damaging behavior that is ineffective and doesn't foster peace.
Past conferences held by ARISE have brought millions of dollars into Israel through collaborations between foreign companies and Israeli businessmen, said Calev Myers, who serves as the founder and president of the organization. The conferences have also helped fight the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which aims to isolate Israel economically.
Several of the businessmen are pro-Israel Evangelicals who are looking to invest in the Israeli tech and start-up sector. By showcasing Israeli innovation in various fields such as health, agriculture, education and transportation the conference hopes to endorse further investment in the Jewish state.
Myers noted that so far ARISE has been successful in bringing large business delegations to Israel. Next week, several hundred executives will attend including ones from the International Christian Chamber of Commerce who come from over 50 countries; the OCEAN Program in Cincinnati; the Karunya network in India and others.
The most well-known attendee of the conference will be American baseball player Albert Pujols of the Los Angeles Angels and his wife, Deidre, both of whom are major supporters of Israel. Pujols is an entrepreneur and one of the founders of ARISE.
Additionally, the conference will host a business competition to encourage Israeli companies to present their products, followed by a panel of judges and business people who will later hold a question and answer session and will choose a winner. The winning product's company will then receive a grant of $10,000 from ARISE.
One of the leading organizers of the conference, who also serves as the co-director of the Yehuda Raveh & Co. Law Offices, Nir Kimhi said that prior to and after the conference, the businessmen will later embark on a tour of Israel to get a more in-depth look at the local business sector.
