Montreal mayor makes historic visit to Israel
09/10/2012 01:37
Arriving with a large business and academic delegation, Montreal mayor Tremblay's visit is 1st of its kind in nearly 20 years.
GÉRALD TREMBLAY Photo: Wikimedia
Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay arrived in Israel Friday with a large business
and academic delegation coincidentally on the day that Canada decided to cut off
ties with Iran.
This is the first visit by a Montreal mayor in nearly 20
years.
The 50-plus delegation also includes heads of the Montreal chamber
of commerce, hi-tech entrepreneurs, textile and cosmetic factory owners, the
assistant deans at McGill University and the Université de Montreal and a number
of academics.
“Israeli culture is very similar to our own,” Tremblay
said.
“We hope to develop sustainable, mutually beneficial business ties.
We can get inspiration from the Israeli innovation model that binds the private
sector, the universities and government offices.”
Israel’s consul-general
in Montreal, Yoel Lion, said the trip began to come together after Tremblay read
the 2009 book Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle.
“A
visit like this with such a large delegation strengthens even more the existing
connection between Israel and Canada, Quebec and Montreal,” he said.
“We
have a lot to offer them and I am glad that we succeeded in convincing the mayor
and the delegation members to come learn from our experience and promote
cooperation in academics, innovation and hitech.”
During the six-day
trip, the delegation will meet President Shimon Peres, Tourism Minister Stas
Meseznikov and leading figures in hi-tech and Israeli academia.
Tremblay
will also meet with the mayors of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beersheba.