Mayor Eric Adams of New York City and Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry, Nir Barkat have signed a Declaration of Intent that paves the way for the NYC-Israel Economic Council. This joint initiative aims to fortify economic connections and foster innovation between New York and Israeli companies. Announced today, the council is set to assist Israeli businesses in establishing their presence in New York, support collaboration in high-tech sectors such as AI and life sciences, and coordinate conference participation.
"Today's announcement of a Declaration of Intent reflects a proud tradition of New York City mayors collaborating with Israel, and will drive innovation, create jobs, and strengthen the unbreakable bond between our two governments," Mayor Adams stated. The Mayor's Office for International Affairs is leading this charge, working alongside the newly formed council that combines representatives from both the New York City Mayor's Office and Israel's Economic Mission to the US. Although the Declaration of Intent is not legally binding, it marks a firm commitment to long-standing cooperation.
The council expects to hold routine meetings and act on collectively devised guidelines, focusing on sectors like economic development, emergency management, and technology. New York City, which harbors the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, finds its ties to Israel reinforced by today's agreement. Mayor Adams has also recently launched the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, an effort to quell the rise of anti-Jewish hate in the city.
"As antisemitism rises globally, New York City is responding with substantive collaboration in key sectors like environmental innovation and artificial intelligence," Moshe Davis, executive director of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, remarked. In addition, Consul General from Israel in New York, Ofir Akunis reflected on the agreement's significance, "Today’s historic agreement is another example of the unbreakable bond between the State of Israel and the City of New York."
