Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd were in Israel on an economic development trip, a push to create and bolster business relationships in the region.
The Republican governor was joined by five state economic development officials and 18 representatives from research institutions and the private sector in Tennessee. State Department of Economic and Community Development spokesman Clint Brewer said that the trip was aimed at fostering relationships between entrepreneurs and researchers in Tennessee and Israel.
A major focus will be on the biomedical and high tech fields. Brewer called Israel a "natural fit" for the governor's trip because the country attracts most venture capital investment per capita in the world. Tennessee Gov. says conversations he's had with some of Israel's top leaders are helpful in understanding international economic development opportunities and challenges.
