AS Israel celebrated its country’s 68th founding anniversary in Makati City, Ambassador Effie Ben Matityau proudly declared they are a country of innovation.
“Israel is nicknamed as the Start-up Nation, for Israel today becomes one of the leading hi-tech hubs of our time with the highest number of start-up companies after Silicon Valley and the No. 2 country with traded companies in Nasdaq [National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations],” Matityau said.
He added: “Check Waze, Intel’s Pentium or Cellron, drip irrigation, Cherry tomatoes, disk on key, voicemail and ICQ—the first texting system—to name just a few, [they’re] all made in Israel.”
He then said that with Israel and Philippine relations growing over the past several years, Filipino companies are starting to see the benifits of partnering with their Israeli couterparts.
“More and more Filipino organizations, big business organizations, are looking at Israel as a part of the solution to their business challenges. I definitely look at great opportunities in IT [information technology], ICT [information and communications technology, cyber, cyber-security. This is the cutting edge for the future,” he said.
He also said that Israel is assisting the Philippines modernize its agricultural industry.
“The Philippines was always a special partner over the years with more than 6,000 participants. In recent years, we hosted more than 500 agriculture students from 29 universities and colleges for an annual 11 months OJT [on-the-job training] program in Israel,” Matityau said.
He then recalled the contributions of two former Philippine presidents in building relationships between the two countries.
“In 1937 Manuel L. Quezon, the first elected president of the Commonwealth, came across the growing plight of the Jewish communities under the Nazi regime. On purely moral grounds and conviction, President Quezon decided to open the gates of the Philippines to Jewish refugees and made arrangements to absorb 170,000 people,” he said.
Then, looking back to 1947, Matityau gave a nod to former President Manuel A. Roxas and Vice President Elpidio R. Quirino.
“The Philippines became the only Asian country in the United Nations to cast a vote in favor of the creation of the State of Israel. That was a critical vote, which makes it possible for us to celebrate our National Days ever since,” Matityau said.
During the celebration, Matityau also congratulated and wished the best for presumptive President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Image credits: Alysa Salen