American and Israeli officials converged on Jerusalem this week for the 38th meeting of the U.S.-Israel Joint Economic Development Group, the annual economic dialogue between the two nations first held in 1985.
During the meetings on Tuesday, participants “re-affirmed the strength of bilateral economic ties, emphasizing the thriving partnership, and re-committing to deepen collaboration and policy coordination over a wide range of economic issues across sectors,” the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem said on Thursday.
Sessions focused on strategic regional projects, foreign investment screening trade and investment and environmental technologies.
Working groups also discussed the impact of the Hamas-initiated war for the economy and efforts to address ongoing security challenges in the region, as well as actions that would support sustainable economic growth, including stabilizing the financial position of the U.S.-backed Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria.
The American delegation to the Jerusalem summit was led by Brent Neiman, assistant secretary for international finance at the Treasury Department, and Sarah Morgenthau, the State Department’s special representative for commercial and business affairs.
The delegation also included U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew and the Treasury Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa and the Middle East Eric Meyer, as well as officials from the Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the U.S. National Security Council.
Israel’s delegation was led by Finance Ministry director-general Shlomi Heizler and the ministry’s chief economist, Shmuel Abramzon. The delegation also included Noach Hacker, minister for economic affairs at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, and representatives of the Foreign Ministry, the Energy Ministry, the Economy and Industry Ministry, the Bank of Israel, the National Security Council and the Israel Innovation Authority.
The discussions were “candid and substantive, and I anticipate they will open avenues for further cooperation on key economic issues for both our countries,” Neiman said in remarks shared by the U.S. Embassy.
Heizler said that “the economic relations between Israel and the United States are a central pillar of our strategic partnership. Over the years, the two countries have built a robust economic relationship together, based on deep friendship, mutual trust, and fruitful cooperation.”
