Delaware governor woos Israeli firms
Jack Markell seeks to persuade Israeli companies to make his state their headquarters for US operations
Thousands of Israel-based businesses are incorporated in Delaware, including high-tech companies Check Point Software Technologies, Amdocs, Ceva and Nice Systems.
The reason so many companies choose to incorporate in Delaware has to do with the nature of the state's corporate law, which is well understood and predictable, as well as its highly regarded courts, Markell said. Now he wants Israeli companies to go beyond corporation.
"We recognize that when businesses in Israel start up, they have to think beyond Israel from day one because the market here isn't big enough. One of the first places people think about doing business with is North America," he told Reuters during a visit to Tel Aviv. "Delaware can be a soft landing."
Because it is one of the smallest US states, located between New York and Washington, Delaware has built a system that minimizes red tape for businesses, eliminates regulatory hurdles and provides business leaders with easy access to senior state officials.
Markell noted that other foreign companies such as British drug firm AstraZeneca have their North American headquarters located in Delaware.
"We want to make sure we are on the radar screen," said Markell, who took office in 2009 and is the only sitting Jewish governor in the United States.
Some 55% of US publicly traded companies have their legal homes in Delaware.
Markell is leading a delegation of Delaware entrepreneurs and business leaders who are also seeking to do business in Israel as well as opportunities for collaboration.
