Business delegation from Israel visits Puerto Rico

By : JOSÉ L. CARMONA
Friday, November 6, 2015
 
A business delegation from Israel, led by the consul general of Israel in New York City, Ido Aharoni, was on the island this week to meet with local business leaders and representatives from the Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer Authority (Prasa).
The Israeli delegation included Revital Malca, deputy consul general of Israel for Florida and Puerto Rico, who invited executives from Israeli companies to the island.
“Israel is very famous as a world leader in water management technologies. When we heard of the water shortage and drought Puerto Rico experienced recently, we decided to bring a delegation of Israeli companies to meet with the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce [CofC] and Prasa to offer our solutions,” Malca commented to CARIBBEAN BUSINESS. Malca said the Israeli delegation partnered with the CofC and the “Somos el Futuro” organization, which held its annual convention on the island. It is very important for the Israeli government, she said, to reach out to the Hispanic community, in both Puerto Rico and Florida.

“We hope that by presenting these companies here—and there are a lot more of them, as this is just the tip of the iceberg—maybe we can have some cooperation,” Malca said. “We are fully aware of the problems Puerto Rico faced with the drought, and we saw an opportunity here.”

Malca said the water shortage is not just a local problem, but a problem seen happening all over the world. Israel, for instance, only has four to five months of rain a year, and out of necessity, Israeli companies developed technologies to deal with the water problem.

“Right now, we have three water desalinization plants in several parts of Israel, and 75% of the water we use for agriculture is recycled. Israel is a world leader in water management,” she said.
During their Puerto Rico visit, executives from three Israeli companies—Krausz Industries, IDC Industries and Star Controls—met with representatives from Prasa as well as with CofC members.
CofC President José Vázquez Barquet highlighted the importance for the island’s business sector to seek alternatives to make the island more competitive as well as minimize future water shortages.

“Amid the crisis Puerto Rico is experiencing, it is imperative we look at all possible alternatives to improve, in a cost-effective way, the management of our water resources, which is so critical for our economic development,” Vázquez Barquet said.

Meanwhile, the Israeli consul general in New York City said Puerto Rico must look at Israel’s mirror to overcome its economic crisis.
“Puerto Rico will achieve its goals as a group if you work together, but you have to work hard,” Aharoni said. “Look at yourselves in the Middle East mirror. We have been able to overcome despite the difficulties, the desert and the hostile environment.”