(Mission of Israel to the United Nations in Geneva)

Dear Chair, dear Delegates,

I would like to share with you a few examples of the fruitful collaboration between the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the State of Israel via MASHAV. MASHAV is Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation and is part of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focusing mainly on capacity-building. 

Since 2006, UNECE, MASHAV and the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center (MCTC) have had an ongoing cooperation through periodical workshops in three issue areas: community services for the elderly, support systems for entrepreneurs, and promoting green technologies. All three programs provide participants with the opportunity to learn about Israeli models and best practices in their respective fields, as well as to exchange models of best practices amongst the group.

Since 2006, UNECE, MASHAV and MCTC have held joint workshops on “Support Systems for Women Entrepreneurs” and “The Use of ICTs in Support Systems to Advance Microenterprises”. These workshops are geared towards the economic empowerment of entrepreneurs, and particularly women, in central Asia. These programs promote poverty eradication and increased family income by enhancing participants’ skill-set and providing the support, guidance, technological knowledge and managerial tools necessary to establish and run micro, small and medium enterprises. 

In 2011 and 2012 Mashav and MCTC cooperated with UNECE’s Population unit in organizing an international workshop on “Community Services for the Elderly”. Through lectures, discussions and study visits, participants gained a multi-sided understanding of current trends and best practices in elderly care.

In December 2013, UNECE, MASHAV and MCTC organized a high-level policy seminar in Israel on “Promoting the Introduction of Green Technologies”, as part of our ongoing cooperation in the area of innovation. The seminar focused on the intersection of innovative technologies and policy-making, seeking to build the capacity of policymakers from Central Asian countries as well as transitional economies in Europe.  Israel is globally recognized as a leader in the science and application of green technologies, and the workshop provided participants with the opportunity to learn about Israeli models and best practices relevant to this paramount challenge.

The Government of Israel greatly values the cooperation with UNECE and would like to see these fruitful programs of cooperation continue. In particular, the Government of Israel would like to invite UNECE to partner and co-organize another high-level seminar on a relevant issue to be agreed upon together (such as green technologies, entrepreneurship and gender empowerment or any other issue relating to innovation) at MCTC in 2014 and 2015.