PROVIDENCE, RI- Governor Gina M. Raimondo announced today that she will be leading a group of Democratic governors to Israel next week on an economic development and policy mission. The delegation will be meeting with policy experts, elected officials, and entrepreneurs to strengthen their states' relationships with the State of Israel and build new partnerships with its business community. The trip will take place from November 17-22.
Governor Raimondo will be joined on the trip by First Gentleman Andy Moffit. They will be accompanied by two members of the executive protection detail from the Rhode Island State Police. There are no staff members from the Governor's Office accompanying the Governor on this trip. Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor will join Governor Raimondo for a series of economic development meetings focused on life sciences, biomanufacturing and cybersecurity. These include tours of the IBM Alpha Zone Accelerator and IBM Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. They will also meet with the President of Ben-Gurion University, Professor Daniel Chamovitz, to explore potential partnerships with Rhode Island.
Over the course of the week, the delegation will host discussions with local business and nonprofit leaders. They will be meeting with representatives of Tsofen, an organization focused on growing high-tech industries in Israel, as well as the Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (MEET), a group that brings together Israeli and Palestinian business leaders jointly committed to using technology for social change. They will also visit the Hand in Hand School in Jerusalem, a bilingual school for Israeli Jews and Arabs.
In addition, the delegation will meet with former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin during their trip.
Travel expenses for the Governor and First Gentleman are being funded by the Center for Innovative Policy, a nonprofit social welfare organization that was founded in 2005. It hosts policy and educational conferences and has partnered with the Democratic Governors Association.
Travel expenses for Secretary Pryor are being funded by the Rhode Island Commodores.
Governor Raimondo and Secretary Pryor will be available to take questions from the media at 3 p.m. this afternoon at the Rhode Island Convention Center.