Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Bethel Finance: Gov. Patrick talks international business at Brandeis

www.bethelfinance.com

Bethel Finance news:

As he prepares for a visit to Latin America next month, Gov. Deval Patrick visited Brandeis University last week to talk about his previous big international trip.

Patrick spoke briefly at the fourth annual New England-Israel Data Storage & Security Summit, encouraging more business relationships between the commonwealth and Israel, which he visited in March of this year to promote Massachusetts as a business destination. He has worked on a number of initiatives related to Israel since then, including opening up a direct flight between the two regions.

Yuval Malinsky, the chairman of the New England-Israel Business Council, which organized the summit, said that during the four years of the event, more than 1,000 New England business people have meet with Israeli companies and more than 300 Israeli company CEOs have met with New England business people.

The Brandeis International Business School hosted the event, and Brandeis President Frederick Lawrence said the mission of the school has never been more connected to understanding world politics.

“The mission of an international business school has never been more compelling and it’s never been more obvious,” he said. “The role of the strategic partnership between the United States and Israel has never been more compelling…and more obvious to those who are aware of the challenges in the global economy.”

At Brandeis on Monday, Nov. 14, Patrick said Israelis should view Massachusetts as a “home away from home.”

Similarly, he said the Commonwealth should look outward toward other countries for business opportunities.

“It’s why we’re going to Latin America,” he said. “It’s why we continue to look out and to showcase the strength that we have here in the Commonwealth, the direction we’re headed in and to build those bridges.”

Patrick said the local economy is greatly influenced by investments in education, innovation and infrastructure, and touted Massachusetts’ brainpower as its calling card around the world.

By the end of the short seven-minute speech, Patrick asked local businessmen in the room not doing business in Massachusetts to make sure they leave their names, addresses and contact information.

“This can’t be a narrative just about a presentation from learned men and women while some talk and you listen,” he said. “What we are looking for is to enrich a conversation and build on that way to create opportunity both here in Massachusetts and Israel. You have a home and friend here.”

The rest of the daylong summit included panel discussions about data storage and security and also featured presentations from a handful of Israeli companies.

No comments:

Post a Comment