CLARK FREEPORT – Business leaders, educators, and local stakeholders engaged in a roundtable discussion with Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh on May 20 at the Clark Marriott Hotel here.
Themed “Building Bridges for Innovation, Agriculture and Future Collaboration Between Israel and Central Luzon,” the discussion was hosted by the Pampanga Business Circle.
Kursh highlighted Israel’s global reputation in agricultural innovation, water management, entrepreneurship, research, and technology development, noting that these areas offer valuable lessons and partnership opportunities for Pampanga and neighboring provinces.
The PBC expressed optimism that future collaborations could include agricultural technology exchanges, greenhouse farming initiatives, irrigation and water management projects, trade and investment missions, academic partnerships, and student exchange programs between Philippine and Israeli institutions.
Representatives from the Central Luzon State University in the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija and the Pampanga State Agricultural University thanked the Israeli envoy for their schools’ exchange student program with the Israeli government for many years.
Part of the discussion was the strategic role of Clark and Central Luzon as emerging hubs for logistics, aviation, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, education, and innovation, stressing that stronger international partnerships could further contribute to regional and national development.
Among the specific collaborations proposed were agricultural technology exchanges, cooperation on greenhouse farming and water recycling, business and investment partnerships, student exchange and research programs between local and Israeli academic institutions, and outbound trade missions to Israel.
