Mission Statement
The Economic Mission in Washington DC represents Israel’s Ministry of Finance in the United States. It supports Israel’s economic relationship with the US government, DC-based international institutions, and strengthens Israel’s ties with US businesses and the American Jewish community.
Objectives
The Economic Mission informs policymaking in Israel by keeping abreast of relevant economic and financial developments in the US. It strives to learn from US experience, with regards to economic issues, and convey solutions back to Israel. Key topics of interest include: cost of living, affordable housing, credit availability to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), banking sector competition, integrating digital services into the public sector, innovations in healthcare, and collaboration in clean technologies and climate change.
The Economic Mission maintains constant bilateral economic dialogue on various matters with the US government, including: fiscal and tax policy, financial services, adapting the economy to comply with international standards, and coordinating the US-Israel loan guarantee program.
Senior-Level Economic Policy Dialogue Between the US and Israel
The Economic Mission works with its counterparts at the US Departments of State, Treasury, and other pertinent offices to organize the annual US-Israel Joint Economic Development Group (JEDG); the premier US-Israel forum for economic policy dialogue.
The JEDG provides the US and Israel an opportunity to freely discuss fiscal and monetary policy as well as macroeconomic developments. Additionally, it opens discussion to expand and deepen policy coordination and cooperation across a broad range of sectors, including: clean technologies and climate change, healthcare and bilateral R&D, science and technology, and digital transformation of government services. Issues identified at the JEDG are further discussed during the year with regular, ongoing dialogue between the two countries.
The Economic Mission also strives to promote Israel’s status as a global leader by taking active roles at prominent international financial institutions, such as the World Bank. As part of its economic diplomacy efforts, the Economic Mission advocates for Israel as an attractive destination for investment and actively works to further improve its reputation as a business- and investment-friendly environment.
The Economic Mission endeavors to strengthen bonds with the American Jewish community by introducing and promoting new economic partnerships and mutually-beneficial investments.
Contact Information
Minister for Economic Affairs
Tel: 202-364-5694
Email: economic@israelemb.org
Doron Shapir, Director of Strategy and Economic Development
Tel: 202-364-5691
Email: ecn2@israelemb.org
Tom Ashkenazi,
Economic Analyst