New Orleans, Israel ports establish ‘Innovation Embassy’

(iStock) Port of New Orleans

Representatives from the Port of Ashdod south of Tel Aviv, Israel, and leaders from five Greater New Orleans business organizations have signed a letter of intent to create an “innovation embassy,” reports Biz New Orleans.

The program was born out of a trade mission to Israel by representatives from New Orleans earlier this year, and will focus on nurturing startup technologies from both locations for modernizing the operations for the trade and logistics industry sector.

“The participating Israeli and Louisiana startups will have a unique opportunity to work with global leaders in port operations, while being exposed to growth best practices from their counterparts and entrepreneurship ecosystem leadership,” says Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc. in a press release. “This collaboration is a direct result of the visit to Israel last summer, and demonstrates the value in exploring locations that pose mutual economic benefit for each other.”

One such project includes the Ashdod Port Accelerator Program, which will incorporate technology into its partnership with the New Orleans coalition. The program will focus on Louisiana maritime growth, support for early-stage entrepreneurs and maximizing efficiency on the lower Mississippi River. Read the entire story.