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The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority’s Israel team has a busy week ahead with major events scheduled in both Virginia and Israel.

On Wednesday, May 22, the FCEDA will attend ceremonies to celebrate the kickoff of United Airlines’ nonstop service between Washington Dulles International Airport and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. Asher Kotz, the FCEDA’s manager of business development for Israel and cybersecurity will be among those on United’s inaugural flight.

Coinciding with United’s new service, Fairfax County EDA’s team is assisting Israeli companies in kickstarting their operations. Kotz and Yair Ephrati, director of the FCEDA office in Tel Aviv, will participate in a host of activities in Israel May 26-30.

“We’ll be connecting Israeli firms to the Fairfax County business community, introducing them to local partners and identifying resources, incentives and grants to help offset costs of launching new U.S. operations,” Ephrati said.

Highlighting the trip will be FCEDA’s participation in and sponsorship of the Israel-US Business Summit 2019, Israel’s largest conference for firms doing business in the U.S. The May 29 event will draw more than 500 senior executives and decision-makers. Ephrati will be among the featured speakers.

“Moreover, with the continued strengthening of the U.S.-Israel military alliance, new opportunities are emerging in the defense, homeland security, aerospace and cybersecurity markets,” Ephrati said. “Fairfax County and Virginia are the premier locations for Israeli companies to set up business operation and manufacturing facilities to leverage the U.S.-Israel military aid package that mandates made-in-America products by the Israeli defense market.”

The FCEDA has had permanent representation in Israel since 2005. More than 30 Israel-based companies have a presence in Fairfax County.

“We see a growing number of International companies, in particular those from Israel, setting up operations in Fairfax County to take advantage of our region’s strong economy, proximity to the federal government market, superbly skilled workforce and local universities cluster,” Ephrati said.

The U.S. is Israel’s largest trading partner, accounting for 25 percent of Israel’s foreign trade. Trade between the two countries was worth more than $35 billion in 2018.

The FCEDA team will meet throughout the week with companies interested in the U.S. market. On Monday, May 27, the FCEDA will host a luncheon forum in Tel Aviv. Those interested in attending the luncheon to see how the FCEDA can assist with market entry should contact Ephrati at FairfaxIsrael@fceda.org or Kotz at akotz@fceda.org.

Catherine W. Riley, interim president and CEO of the FCEDA acknowledged the fortuitous timing of United’s new service and the FCEDA’s participation in the May events in Israel.

“Israel represents a very positive growth market for Fairfax County and with good reason, given our similar interests in technologies such as cybersecurity and defense, our unique proximity to Washington, D.C., and our exceptional resources,” Riley said. “United’s nonstop service can only serve to strengthen and enhance the ability of Israel and Fairfax County to continue as highly productive and growth-oriented business partners.”

The award-winning Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA offers site location and business development assistance, and connections with county and state government agencies, to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County. In addition to its headquarters in Tysons, Fairfax County’s largest business district, the FCEDA maintains marketing offices in six important global business centers: Bangalore, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul and Tel Aviv. Follow the FCEDA on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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