Miss.-Israel biz meetings

JACKSON, Miss. - Leaders of Mississippi and Israel want to increase their small trade arrangements in an effort to build on that economic relationship amidst international politics. Gov. Phil Bryant and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, hosted a trade meeting here April 28. The ambassador said Mississippi businesses can benefit from access to Israel's technological innovations. Bryant said he wants the state to enhance its economy by trading with the American ally – despite fractured relations between the White House and Israel’s prime minister. "That's what it's about, doing business with our friends ...” Bryant said. Mississippi has a tiny trade relationship with Israel – with the state’s chief exports being transportation equipment, chemicals, electronic products and appliances. In meetings April 28, Israeli businesses were meeting with Mississippi companies. The governor said he hoped Raytheon Corp. could sell radars to the Israeli military. "There's nothing better than the most advanced radar helping protect Israel, unless it's made in Forest, Mississippi," he said while pushing the state-based Raytheon Corp. (Source: Biloxi Sun Herald 04/28/15) Central Mississippi Note: Among the speakers at the meeting was Robert Fogelsong, a former Mississippi State University president, the current CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries North America - that includes Stark Aerospace, a Columbus-based maker of unmanned aerial vehicles.