SEMINAR ON DOING BUSINESS IN ISRAEL
CLOSING REMARKS
ON THE OCCASION OF THE SEMINAR ON DOING BUSINESS IN ISRAEL, HELD IN LAGOS,
NIGERIA ON JULY 18, 2013
Greetings!
I
feel humbled to be called upon to give the closing remarks on this August
occasion on “Doing Business in Israel” put together by the Nigeria Israel
Chamber of Commerce and Infoplus Business Information Services.
Israel
has been described by one of the speakers as a mission, practical and focused
with know-how, new concepts and set of skills that have transformed its economy,
whereby once desert areas have been transformed into agricultural fields; and
the country able to feed itself and to export! As a matter of fact, Israel’s
capacity for innovation has been identified as its main strength such that insecurity
and other significant adverse conditions have not fazed the citizens of this
great country from digging deep into research and development. The World
Economic Forum recently issued its Global Competitiveness Report for 2012-13
which indicated that Israel remains a competitive player in the international
economy.
I
will paraphrase the works of Dan Senor and Saul Singer in their book on the ‘Start-
up Nation, the story of Israel’s economic miracle’. In this book, the authors
noted that Israel has something to offer that is sought by other countries,
including countries that are considered on the forefront of global
competitiveness. According to the authors, in addition to the institutional
elements that make up clusters-which Finland, Singapore and Korea (South) already
possess, what is missing in these other countries is a cultural core built in a
rich stew of aggressiveness and team orientation, on isolation and
connectedness, and on being small and aiming big.
The
secret then of Israel’s success is the combination of some classic elements of
technology clusters with some unique Israeli elements that enhance the skills
and experience of individuals, make them work together more effectively as
teams and provide tight and readily available connections within an established
and growing community.
Messrs
Dan Senor and Saul Singer further noted that while innovation is scarce, it is
a renewable resource. Unlike finite natural resources, ideas can spread and
benefit whichever countries are best positioned to take advantage of them;
regardless of where they are invented.
Imagine
therefore a country as Nigeria endowed with youths with abundant energy and
overflowing ideas channeled into wrong activities, most of which have brought
shame and mistrust to the country. In my candid opinion, Israel serves as one
country with ideas that can be deployed to implement the Transformation Agenda
of the Federal Government. Countries such as India and Singapore are aware of
this fact and have entered partnership with the state of Israel for scientific
and technological research and development. Our NOTAP (Nigerian Office for
Technological Acquisition and Promotion) should consider a high level
discussion with the government of Israel through its Embassy in Nigeria to
implement the technical agreement signed by both countries several years ago.
It
gives me joy that in this gathering, we have representatives of the Raw
Materials Research and Development Council, Federal Institute of Industrial
Research, Bank of Industry, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nigerian
Investment Promotion Commission, Nigerian Association of Small Scale
Industrialists, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Lagos
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, various state governments and members of
Nigeria Israel Chamber of Commerce, I hope that we took notes.
I
look forward to a day, when like Pilgrims to the Holyland, the Nigerian
Government considers sending equal number of young Nigerians on study exchange
to Israel. Our economic recovery journey would have been shortened.
Long
live the Nigeria Israel Chamber of Commerce.
NDUDI OSAKWE
Consultant,
INFOPLUSinquiry@ibgnigeria.com
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