Israel intends to increase trade with the Philippines particularly by expanding the market for homeland security technologies.
Israeli companies providing Homeland Security (HLS) technology and solutions are hopeful in expanding markets in the Philippines. This was the was the message during the press conference of the Business Forum on Homeland Security held last July 15, 2014 in Makati City.
HLS solutions have a potentially large market in the Philippines particularly in areas of emergency and disaster managements and corporate security among others. At present, there are already several Israel-based companies offering and providing security products and solutions to government and private sector clients in the country.
According to data provided in the HLS Forum, there are about 600 Israeli companies active in the security sector. Also, 350 Israeli security companies export their products worldwide. In 2010, Israel’s defense industry exports rose to $7.2 billion. As of today, Israel is the world’s sixth largest defense exporter.
Israel is one of the leading technology and solutions provider on HLS. Israeli HLS companies provides solutions in key areas namely Cyber Security, Intelligence, Counter terror & Law Enforcement, Emergency Preparedness & Management, and Critical Infrastructure Protection.
Yolanda Experience
During the HLS Forum, it was highlighted that Israeli technology and solutions were used by the Israeli relief mission during the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda
During the Press Conference of the HLS Forum, Col. Shai Brovender, Israel Defense Attache to the country shared how Israeli military technology was used in disaster management during the response to Super Typhoon Yolanda.
Brovender recounted that the Israeli state immediately sent a humanitarian mission to the country particularly in Northern Cebu. Among others, Israeli mission established a command and control system that provided real time maps and Geographic Information System (GIS) for relief operations.
Adam Levene, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Israel presented during the HLS Forum about the Israeli relief mission after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda. Dubbed as Operation Islands of Hope, Levene said that over 100 tons of equipment and hundreds of Israeli soldiers and relief personnel were brought in within hours to operate in Northern Cebu. He also highlighted that the Israeli contingent quickly built and put into operation a mobile hospital which treated more than 3,000 patients.
Levene highlighted that the success of the relief mission was achieved with proper planning, coordination, organization flexibility.
Trade Mission on Agriculture
Israeli companies are also interested in expanding its market on agriculture technologies in the Philippines. According to Doron Hemo, Israel’s Head of Economic and Trade Mission to the Philippines, a trade mission for Israeli for agriculture will be going to the Philippines before the end of the year.
