• Video from 2009 B2B Conference

Business-to-Business: A Partnership Initiative for Business Social Responsibility 

Last year, the Jewish Agency for Israel convened the first "Business-to-Business" (B2B) initiative within the framework of the International Globes Business Conference. Participants hailed from communities across the globe and from an array of business sectors. The one defining characteristic of all participants was that they harbored a special place for Israel – in their hearts, minds, for unique business opportunity – or a combination of the three. 

Israel is clearly unique: A tiny country with a small local economy, paucity of natural resources, limited human resources, which in any other scenario could have feasibly paralyzed this young nation. Moreover, Israel – the only democracy in the Middle East – is not considered mainstream among all countries, all people and as a result all companies. Yet within these confines, Israel has made its mark on global markets whether in R&D, high tech, bio tech, finance, traditional industry, and so much more.  

We are all here to do business. But is there more that we can and should be exploring as business leaders vis-a-vis Israel? Is there more we can do to leverage Israel's innovative capabilities and unique skill sets in helping to advance Israel among leading nations?  As the only democracy in the region, does this place additional responsibility on the overseas business community? Israel has unique strengths and weakness – is there more that we can or should be doing together as business leaders to strengthen the business sector as well as the social sector?