Business Track: Real Estate & Investments

Chair: Barry Cohn

The real estate market in Israel is attracting strong interest from American, Chinese and European companies and received a record $1.4 billion in foreign investment in 2006. The mission will examine the latest offerings in Israel’s infrastructure, residential, commercial and industrial markets, as well as property funds for Israel and Eastern Europe.

The itinerary combines exposure to the real estate sector’s elite in Israel with topical, productive business meetings. You’ll attend industry and political sessions designed to expose participants to innovative ideas and opportunities in real estate and investments as well as to gather market intelligence and develop business connections. We will visit major real estate developments where you’ll have personal interaction with senior professionals in the field, meet leading investors and participate in sector-outlook roundtables.

Consider the opportunities: “As emerging markets experience their steepest slide in eight years, investment bank Deutsche Bank this week singled out Israel as one of two ‘safe havens’ for investors looking to put their money in developing countries’ exchanges.... Israel was a low volatility market compared to other emerging markets due to it not being subject to currency, commodity or interest rate spread concerns.” Jerusalem Post, May 24, 2006.

Activities include:

• Briefings with the Governor of the Bank of Israel, Mr. Stanley Fischer*
• Private small group meetings with business leaders in real estate and investing, based on your requests
• In-depth meetings with experts in the legal entitlement process, financing and taxation
• Briefings on issues in public/private partnerships (redevelopment zones, kibbutzim conversions and their benefits), market demand & architecture

Full draft itinerary to be posted shortly — check back regularly for updates!

*scheduled to appear