Ohio Offers Israeli Businesses Ideal Location for Growth

Ohio continues its successful efforts to attract cutting-edge Israeli businesses to the state and help them establish and grow their U.S. presence. As a result, Israeli companies are recognizing the professional and personal benefits of expanding their operations in Ohio, according to the Ohio Business Development Coalition , the nonprofit entity that markets the state for capital investment.

Ohio's most recent initiative to develop opportunities with Israeli companies was The Ohio-Israeli Innovation Forum for Advanced Technologies . The forum, which took place last week in Akron, Ohio, invited nine Israeli companies on the cutting edge of their industries to Ohio to learn more about the state's business environment and resources and network with Ohio-based companies, venture capitalists, researchers and entrepreneurs.

The visiting Israeli companies, chosen through an extensive selection process, were impressed by Ohio's strong, collaborative business environment. Hagit Halperin, co-founder and vice president of sales of Israel-based SeqUR, which offers a technology that detects fraudulent financial transactions, noted, "The organizers of the forum were extremely helpful but there were many other members of the business community who offered to help us connect with potential partners and investors. It's a true community where people want to see others succeed and we like that."

Participants also experienced first-hand that in Ohio, business success is built within the broader context of a fulfilling life. With five major cities in close proximity to smaller ones, Ohio provides a variety of low cost, low stress communities from which to choose. These communities offer a tapestry of cultural and recreational activities that enable executives to achieve both their professional and personal aspirations without sacrificing one for the other. And with more than 150,000 Jewish Americans living in Ohio, Israeli executives and their families find many Jewish communities, organizations and religious institutions to make them feel at home.

As a result of forum discussions and a first-hand look at Ohio's business environment and standard of living, all of the Israeli companies participating in the forum expressed satisfaction with the outcome of their meetings, and have already scheduled follow-up discussions to further explore strategic partnerships or expansion opportunities in Ohio.

The number of established Israeli businesses in Ohio is growing. In the last four years, 20 Israeli companies have relocated operations to Beachwood, Ohio. To generate more interest from Israeli businesses seeking to relocate, the city of Akron, Ohio made a substantial investment in the Targetech Innovation Center, a privately held business incubator near Tel Aviv, Israel. As a result, companies from Targetech that move to the U.S. locate in Akron, providing the city with jobs and income tax revenue.

Mark Saffran, CEO of MDG Medical, the forum's July 17 lunchtime speaker, lauded Ohio's benefits for growing Israeli businesses. Founded in Tel Aviv, MDG moved its headquarters to Beachwood, but maintains operations in Israel. Saffran encouraged all attendees to explore opportunities for partnerships and leverage Ohio's business development services and support organizations. "Ohio has everything a developing business needs to thrive," Saffran said. "The central location, a large labor pool, a terrific standard of living and great institutions full of bright people. No matter what you need you can find it here."

For more information about the Ohio Business Development Coalition, please visit www.ohiomeansbusiness.com .

Media Contact: Caroline Cofer Paul Werth Associates 614-224-8114, ext. 232 Email Contact