The Mayor of London will visit Israel and the Palestinian territories next week on a three day trade mission to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah.
In Tel Aviv, the Mayor will be joined by representatives from 15 London technology firms who are seeking to partner with Israeli tech experts. Over the last two decades, Israel has become famous for its high-tech capacity, particularly in telecommunications, information technology, bio-medical equipment and environmental sciences.
The UK has become Israel’s largest trading partner in the European Union, and the Mayor’s visit seeks to strengthen these ties. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, said: “We’re heading to a region with enormous potential for stronger links with London. This visit will be a fantastic opportunity to explore the possibilities of building the long term relationships and partnerships that will create opportunities for our businesses to prosper”.
The Mayor will meet with former Israeli President Shimon Peres at the Peres Centre for Peace in Jaffa, where they will discuss how leadership and innovation can shape future relations.
In Jerusalem, Mr Johnson will visit Yad Vashem, the memorial to victims of the Holocaust, and will lay a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance. He will view a demonstration of pioneering cyclist and pedestrian detection technology, developed in Israel and now being used to make streets in London safer.
The Mayor will meet with senior politicians in Ramallah, and will attend an event with the Palestinian Business Women’s Forum.
He will meet with young Palestinians who are working to increase dialogue between decision makers and ordinary citizens, and will host a business reception in East Jerusalem for Palestinian businesspeople and bankers.
