Premier Dexter Meets Shimon Peres in Israel
Premier Darrell Dexter met with the president of Israel and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres, Sunday, Oct. 23, during the premier's trade mission to Israel and the West Bank.
"It was an honour and a pleasure to meet with President Peres," said Premier Dexter. "This was an opportunity to discuss and identify partnerships between Nova Scotia and Israeli companies, researchers and academics.
"Israel's life sciences industry is similar to that of our province. If we work together, our two regions can advance neuroscience research, both from a medical and a technological perspective."
The life sciences and technology sectors in both areas are strong, diversified and growing. The life sciences industry in Nova Scotia exports $250 million worth of products annually, and is one of the fastest growing sectors with more than 50 innovative firms provincewide.
The province also has an established and growing neuroscience sector, with world-class researchers in multiple disciplines, including neurosurgery, neuroimaging and pharmacology.
The Brain Repair Centre in Halifax is a multi-disciplinary centre linking more than 100-world class researchers specializing in ground-breaking treatments and technologies. The centre is internationally known for its successful treatment of symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
"Both Israel and Nova Scotia have a very talented and resourceful medical and scientific community that can work together to advance brain research," said President Peres. "Advances in this field will have a significant impact to humankind."
Also in attendance at the meeting were: Daniel Hershkowitz, Israel's Minister of Science; Bonny Berger, Israel trade commissioner; Paul Hunt, Canada's ambassador to Israel; Stephen Lund, president and CEO of Nova Scotia Business Inc.; and Dr. Ivar Mendez, chairman of the Dalhousie Brain Repair Centre.
Companies around the globe have discovered the benefits of doing business in Nova Scotia. The Premier has said this trade mission will foster relationships between Nova Scotia and Israeli organizations, and develop new opportunities for growth and investment.
The trade mission continues until Thursday, Oct. 27.