Global Partnerships Are Key

May 28, 2010

To the Editor:

In this networked, Internet-driven era, it's increasingly clear that businesses need global knowledge and experience to compete successfully. That's why the Jewish Community Relations Council, in partnership with the Boston Center for Community and Justice, launched the Boston-Haifa Learning Exchange, which recently sent a dozen Hub business and nonprofit leaders on a weeklong sojourn to connect with their counterparts in Haifa, Israel.

Since 2005, the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment has helped to attract Israeli companies to Massachusetts, and a number of Bay State venture capital firms maintain offices and investments in Israel. With its emphasis on person-to-person and city-to-city connections, the Boston-Haifa Learning Exchange enhances these connections and provides many clear benefits for Boston's economy.

Despite its small size, Israel is a growing economic powerhouse that shares many strengths with our business environment. At the same time, it is grappling with many of the same social issues facing the United States, especially environmental challenges and a growing gap between rich and poor. Today's business world demands that we all must be "international leaders." Building a strong connection between Boston and Haifa executives is a powerful first step.

--Dorie Clark, CEO, Clark Strategic Communications

--Nancy Kaufman, Executive Director, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston