אלבום חברות התעשייה וההיי-טק המובילות בישראל

and does not have our connections - and we willingly make them available to it. As mentioned above, we succeeded to pass 2020 successfully, above and beyond all expectations. Most of our concerns in the association did not materialize and I must say, also because of the excellent work of this organization, which also knew how to formulate the procedures for business activity using the capsule method, for all intents and purposes, and the struggles I led before the closure periods, left the industries working. In intensive discussions with the manufacturers, together with the Ministry of Health, the Home Front Command, and the Ministry of Economy, we built a “business continuity” procedure, through which we prevented infections with the Covid-19 virus in factories. We proved that the industry was the domain with the least infections. Parent companies of Israeli companies from abroad heard about the procedure and sought to adopt it, and so we became a “Beacon to the World” not only in the export of products, but also in the export of methodology. As soon as the Corona crisis began, we opened a situation room within the association and soon dealt with about 1,000 inquiries a day. We employed eight people on a day shift and three on a night shift in a situation room, which worked around the clock. Moreover, we did not limit ourselves to answers to members of the association. As the leaders of the economy, we gave answers to everyone - to importers, to the self-employed, to businessmen - to everyone. We became the address for the whole economy. It is true that there has been an official, state run, hot line on this matter - but the business sector always knows how to respond faster. Recently, we have established a new alliance, called “Presidency of Employers and Businesses”, a collaboration of the manufacturers’ association with the Chambers of Commerce, the Israel Farmers’ Federation, and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Together we represent companies employing about 70% of the employees in the private sector. In conclusion, as president of the Israeli Manufacturers’Association, I wish to see the industry as leading the growth in the national economy; My vision is to bring the industry’s share in the GNP to 20%, plus another 10% contributed by the high-tech industry; together we will hold 30% of GNP. As part of the vision, I certainly see large production sites in Israel being set up in collaboration with multinational companies. Whether these are multinational companies, whether they are multinational companies that will build plants here, or Israeli companies that will develop into multinational companies. Scale-up nation, not just start-up nation. In this field, the Israeli space industry, for example, can occupy an increasingly significant place, at the local and global level. I see in the industry the whole realization of the Zionist idea, a strong economy, a strong society, advanced defense industries and provisions for a strong army. In historical paraphrase, the Manufacturers’Association is the new Zionist Congress. And it is the Israeli industry that will build the vision for future generations. Dr. Ron Tomer, President The Manufacturers’Association of Israel