Rivlin’s team gets down to business
The Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce hosted a lunch in Sydney at which Israel’s President Reuben Rivlin addressed over 300 captains of industry.
Adiv Baruch, Shai Zarivatch, Major-General [ret’d] Ido Nehushtan, Australia’s Ambassador to Israel Chris Cannan, Jillian Segal, President Rivlin, Governor Margaret Beazley, Israel’s ambassador to Australia Mark Sofer, Michelle Blum and Paul Israel
Following lunch, the delegation of Israeli business who accompanied the president on his visit to Australia met local business identities and formed workgroups to find ways of increasing trade between the two countries.
The lunch was MC’d by prominent businesswoman Jillian Segal who introduced the Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley who spoke to 350 attendees.
The Governor spoke about collaboration and cooperation which “is so important for both our economies”.
She highlighted the importance of the cooperation and exchange of ideas in the area of water sourcing mentioning how Israel is a world leader in “making water from the air”.
Education and sports exchanges were all mentioned by the Governor.
She spoke about governmental exchanges surprising many in the room by informing the event of the Gladys Berejekilian Israel visit.
A member of the president’s delegation Adiv Baruch told the event of the benefits of trading with Israel.
Jillian Segal introduced President Rivlin who starting his address by granting an open invitation to Governor Beazley to make her first visit to Israel.
The president said “the strong friendship between Israel and Australia is built on shared values”.
He spoke about the early settlers in Israel in the 1920s who caught malaria in the swamps and how the problem was solved by importing eucalyptus trees from Australia.
President Rivlin spoke about the Israeli companies being established in Australia and stated: “We have so much to share with each other. You are the agents of change”
