Georgia Governor Barnes woos Israel high-tech firms
By Tova Cohen
TEL AVIV, June 21 (Reuters) - Georgia Governor Roy Barnes is leading a trade and technology mission to Israel this week, hoping to persuade Israeli high-tech companies to open offices in his southern U.S. state.
Barnes said 35 Israeli companies have offices in Georgia and by the end of this mission he expects this number to grow to 50.
``This is the first trade mission we have done. I don't travel unless there's a good chance for success,'' Barnes told reporters.
Georgia is ranked among the five top U.S. states in terms of new high-tech jobs created, Barnes said.
Israeli companies such as Jacada Ltd (NasdaqNM:JCDA - news), Amdocs Ltd (NYSE:DOX - news), Nice Systems (NasdaqNM:NICE - news), Gilat Satellite Networks (NasdaqNM:GILTF - news) and Radware Ltd (NasdaqNM:RDWR - news) have U.S. or regional headquarters in the Atlanta area, according to the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, southeast region.
Barnes said he is also trying to convince state-owned El Al Israel Airlines [ELAL.CN] to begin a direct flight to Atlanta from Tel Aviv.
``The demand is there and we're in talks with El Al,'' Barnes said.
An El Al spokesman said the airline has operated from Tel Aviv to Atlanta for special groups but had never developed plans for scheduled flights.
GEORGIA FIRMS SEEK TO INVEST IN ISRAEL
Many members of the mission are also exploring investment opportunities in Israel.
Atlanta-based United Parcel Service is currently negotiating a $300 million to $500 million deal with Motorola Inc's (NYSE:MOT - news) Israeli subsidiary to develop the fourth generation of hand-held computers used by the company's drivers.
Since 1992 UPS has spent a total of $300 million on the first three versions of the device made by Motorola Israel.
UPS also has a rapidly growing subsidiary in Israel and the company's venture capital fund is interested in investing in Israeli start-ups in the fields of e-commerce and Internet technology, Jack Duffy, UPS senior vice president for corporate strategy, told Reuters.
Fuqua Ventures of Atlanta is looking to invest in Israeli start-ups in partnership with Israeli-based venture capital funds.
``There are several things of great interest and we'll follow up in Atlanta,'' said John Huntz, managing director of the Fuqua venture capital firm.
FleetBoston (NYSE:FBF - news) Robertson Stephens Inc, which opened an investment banking office in Atlanta in March, is in talks to underwrite three public offerings by Israeli companies.
Jonathan Goldman, managing director for investment banking at Robertson Stephens in Atlanta, said the firm was also in talks with another three companies to privately raise capital in the United States.
``We see a lot of great technology and opportunity and what is missing is the distribution and strategic partnerships,'' Goldman said. |
