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(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)
 
President Reuven Rivlin today (Thursday, 3 May 2018), participated in the “Impact for Good” conference bringing together and encouraging greater partnership between public, private, and voluntary sectors around the Jewish world with their counterparts in Ethiopia.
 
Also attending the conference were chair of the Knesset Immigration and Absorption Committee, and member of the Caucus for the Jewish Community in Ethiopia, MK Avraham Neguise: Chair of the Caucus to Promote the Status of Jews From Ethiopia, MK Penina Tamanu-Shata; President of the Israel Manufacturers Association, Shraga Brosh; Director General of the Israel Export Institute, Gadi Ariely; MFA Deputy Director for MASHAV, Ambassador Gil Haskel; and Director of the Israel Branch of the Society for International Development (SID Israel), Alon Bar.
 
In addition, the conference was attended by a delegation of leading Israeli businessmen, academics, representatives of civil society organizations, their Ethiopian counterparts and colleagues, as well as prominent leaders in the fields of aid and development from Jewish communities around the world. The delegation was arranged by the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Export Institute and the Manufacturers' Association. The conference was held in cooperation with the International Development Association (SID Israel), and focused on 60 years of cooperation in Africa as well as 60 years of the work of MASHAV – the Agency for International Cooperation of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
The purpose of the conference was to create a meeting between government, business, social responsibility, and Jewish organizations working in the field, together with their partners from Ethiopia and Africa, in order to create cooperation, and deepen and expand their activities and partnership. This is the first time that a joint official event for Israeli representatives had been held alongside representatives from Diaspora Jewry from the field of development.
 
The International Development Association (SID) is an umbrella organization encompassing over 100 organizations, companies, academic institutions active in the field of international development. The goal of the organization is to promote Israeli action in the developing world in the governmental, corporate, and third sectors, out of the realization that such an undertaking had many diplomatic and economic benefits. The organization, in cooperation with the Office of the President, held the “Impact for Good” conference in Ethiopia in order to create a platform for cooperation between the various sectors in Israel together with organizations and foundations from the Jewish world, with their counterparts in Ethiopia.
 
During the conference Sivan Yaari, founder and CEO of "Innovation: Africa" presented the topic of civil society and water. In addition, Sahilu Baye, a graduate of MASHAV and the Child Development Program at the University of Haifa, and founder of the Enrichment Center for the Disadvantaged (ECD), presented the African perspective. Yair Teller, founder of HomeBiogas presented on the theme of the private sector and energy. Dr. Rick Hodes, medical director of the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), spoke on the role of the Jewish community in medicine, and Saar Bracha, CEO of Tahal, spoke on the role of the private sector.
 
In his address, President Rivlin welcomed the initiative and all the participants. He said, “It is our pure interest and duty, to be a true partner to those who wish to join hands, and grow together. To create together ‘impact for good’. Today, in light of the sustainable development goals the UN has defined, Ethiopia, like other countries in Africa, is looking for true partners. Due to Israel's history and the amazing know-how we have developed, I think we are in the best position in the world to be that partner. Israel, together with the Jewish people, is a true partner and friend of Ethiopia, and Africa.  We are all here together because we know that change, and impact, can only be done through partnerships. Only through G2G cooperation; through public-private and civil society collaborations, will we be able to meet the challenges that lie ahead. To ensure food security, to purify water, to fight diseases and improve public health, to build better infrastructure, to make the most out of energy resources. We are all here to think together of better solutions, to lead new directions of action for the benefit and well-being of all sides.”
 
Among the leading members of the Jewish communities from around the world, United Kingdom Chief Rabbi Efraim Mirvis addressed the conference and said, “We, the Jewish People, need to have a foreign policy. In two words: Social responsibility”.
 
MFA Deputy Director for MASHAV, Ambassador Gil Haskel said, “MASHAV – which believes in building bridges between Israel and the nations – has placed development in Africa at the top of its agenda, and was very happy that the President also decided to place Africa high on his agenda.”
 
President of the Manufacturers’ Association, Shraga Brosh, told the participants, “Our goal is to increase exports to Ethiopia by many hundreds of percent. Especially in light of the exact match between Ethiopia's specific needs and the innovative technologies Israel has to offer as the Start Up Nation. Israel is considered a technological industrial power in many areas that the Ethiopian government seeks to develop – for example, agriculture, cyber, computing, medical equipment, water, energy, and infrastructure. More than ever, Ethiopia needs Israeli technologies, and we believe that in this context it will be possible to significantly expand commercial ties between the two countries, with an emphasis on increasing Israel's exports to Ethiopia in these fields.”
 
SID-Israel director, Alon Bar, said, “As the umbrella organization of more than 100 organizations and groups working in the field of international aid and development, we were excited to cooperate with the President's Office and the President of Israel at this unprecedented event to promote the positive influence of Israel and Diaspora Jewry in Ethiopia in particular and in Africa in general.”
 
The President is due to return to Israel later this evening.