​A trade mission from Ontario led by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne visited Israel this week. The delegation included government officials as well as around 130 business, academic, and research representatives.

During her visit, the Premier met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visited Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center and met with Chief Scientist Avi Hasson and with the local business and academic community. At several speaking engagements, Premier Wynne emphasized the strong ties between Ontario and Israel and the importance of Israel to Ontario and Canada.

The main purpose of the delegation to Israel is to pursue trade and investment opportunities between Israel and Ontario, to seek opportunities to collaborate on research and development (R&D) projects, and to sign agreements to work together on cutting-edge technological projects. During the visit, more than 30 agreements and partnerships between Ontario and Israeli businesses and institutions, valued at $87 million, were signed. One of the agreements was an amendment to the existing Ontario-Israel Research and Development MOU, which will expand the agreement to include academic-industry partnerships.
 
After her meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu the Premier said:

"Today, I concluded a successful meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where we discussed ways to strengthen ties between our regions and make them both more prosperous.

Israel is one of the top innovation economies in the world, and a priority market for Ontario. Israel and Ontario are both leaders in the fields of research, innovation, and life sciences, making us natural partners.

Ontario and Israel already have an industrial research and development Memorandum of Understanding in place, and over the last decade it has helped connect over 680 innovation leaders, generate 15 industry-led research and development projects, and leverage more than $16 million in outside funding.

My first business mission to the Middle East will strengthen relationships, promote trade, and generate important agreements and partnerships. Providing companies with more opportunities to do business internationally will create jobs and economic growth in both Israel and Ontario, and I look forward to developing this important relationship further."