Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is no stranger to Global Entrepreneurship Week, having issued a statement of support on its opening day in 2009. This year, he will hand out the "Prime Minister's Prize for Entrepreneurship and Innovation" during the Week and recently issued the following statement:
While Israeli entrepreneurs are world leaders in hi-tech, biotech, nanotech and many other cutting edge fields, Israel’s best economic days are still to come. That is because as Israeli entrepreneurship and innovation is combined with a freer and more competitive economy, the remarkable potential of our people is being unleashed. Every day in what has become known as the “Start-up Nation,” new discoveries are made, new inventions are created, and new ideas are formulated.
With Israel a center of global innovation, these achievements are already having an impact across the world. But by expanding our partnerships with other countries, that impact can become even greater in the years ahead. That is why we look forward to participating in the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW). This year, in the framework of GEW, the “Prime Minister’s Prize for Entrepreneurship and Innovation” will be awarded for the first time. We hope this award will further encourage entrepreneurship and innovation in Israel, particular among the young. While encouraging Israeli entrepreneurship and innovation is critical for our own country’s economic future, I have no doubt that it will also contribute to a future of prosperity and hope for all humanity.