(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Meeting with HP President and CEO Meg Whitman
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met (Wednesday, 20 January 2016), at the World Economic Forum in Davos, with Hewlett Packard Enterprise President and CEO Meg Whitman, expressed his appreciation for Hewlett Packard's connection with Israel and reviewed the many reasons why technology cooperation, especially in cyber, was worthwhile.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and Hewlett Packard Enterprise President and CEO Whitman discussed the potential possibilities in both northern and southern Israel vis-à-vis expanding HP's activity. Whitman noted her company's long-standing commitment to Israel, including billions of dollars in investments, and added that HP currently employs over 5,000 workers in Israel. She expressed HP's appreciation for Israeli initiatives and innovation and noted that they contribute to the company around the world. Also discussed was the expansion of HP's activity in Israel especially in 3-D printing and cyber.
Before his meeting with Meg Whitman, Prime Minister Netanyahu met with UBER co-founder and CEO Travis Kalanick.
The Prime Minister presented the opportunities the State of Israel is offering to multi-national companies and emphasized the technological leadership of the Israeli high-tech industry in order to expand cooperation between these companies and Israeli companies and encourage investment and acquisitions in Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is being accompanied to Davos by Prime Minister's Office Director General Eli Groner, National Economic Council Chairman Prof. Avi Simhon and National Cyber Bureau Head Dr. Eviatar Matania.
Meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden and State Secretary John Kerry
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met (Thursday, 21 January 2016), at the World Economic Forum in Davos, with US Vice President Joe Biden. The meeting was friendly and cordial and was held in an excellent atmosphere. The two men discussed Middle East security and strategic issues and energy.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will also held a public dialogue, on the World Economic Forum's main stage, with senior CNN correspondent Fareed Zakaria.
Meeting with global leaders on cyber defense
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Thursday, 21 January 2016) at the World Economic Forum in Davos, held a unique meeting on advancing cyber defense with managing directors and senior figures in the global cyber industry, including from Sony, Hitachi, Lenovo, Intel, IBM and Hewlett Packard. Participants discussed cyber threats and their implications on the development and assimilation of innovative technologies, the economic, social and strategic risks posed by these threats and the unique cooperation required between governments and the business sector in order to be prepared to ensure the ability to use the cyber revolution for the benefit of global social welfare and economic growth.
Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized that the rapid development of cyber is creating unprecedented opportunities for human society and the global economy and said that cyber has substantially changed basic elements of our lives both as individuals and nations. In the new age, it is cyber defense that makes the future possible and constitutes a precondition for growth and security. In light of this understanding, Israel has set for itself being a cyber power as a top priority, this by becoming a global cyber greenhouse – in which the spirit of innovation and technological assets create pioneering strategies and solutions for Israel and the world. The Prime Minister noted that Israel is carrying out various improvements in order to reduce the organizations' vulnerability to cyber threats and referred to the establishment of a national cyber defense authority that is working with the private sector on an ongoing basis even as it leverages the capabilities and know-how of the defense establishment.
The company leaders expressed appreciation for Israel's cyber activity; Prime Minister Netanyahu invited them to invest in Israel and join the cyber companies that are already in Israel.
Prime Minister's Office Director General Eli Groner, Israel National Cyber Bureau (INCB) Head Dr. Eviatar Matania and National Economic Council Chairman Prof. Avi Simhon also participated in the meeting.
INCB cyber industry data for 2015:
Exports – approximately $3.5 billion, or around 5% of $75 billion global market. Regarding products only, Israel's share is approximately 7%.
Private investments – Estimated at $500 million, more than double the figure for 2014. Esimates on global private investments have yet to be issued. As of the first half of 2015, Israel's share was almost 20% (second to the US). It is not expected that this will change significantly vis-à-vis he entire year.
Mergers and acquisitions – Estimated at $1.3 billion, almost double the figure for 2014.