The Israel-Spain Chamber of Commerce (CCIE) renewed its activities with new leadership. The new President of the CCIE is Mr. Micha Harish. This renewal was celebrated with an important meeting that took place at the Bank Leumi Auditorium on Tuesday, May 15.

The program started with greetings by Mr. Micha Harish, CCIE's President, Mr. Haim Aharon‎‏, President of the Federation of Bi-National Commerce Chambers, and Mr. Herzl Inbar, Israel's Ambassador to Spain and President of the Israel-Spain Friendship Association (Asociación de Amistad Israel-España).

Mr. Micha Harish presented a message from Mr. Shimon Peres, Israel's President, who expressed the importance of Israel's diplomatic, cultural and economic relations with Spain. Mr. Micha Harish mentioned the importance of these relations for himself and his involvement in these relations, starting with the honor of representing Mr. Shimon Peres, Israel's President at the time, in covert meetings with Felipe Gonzalez, Spain's President, in Madrid. These meetings resulted in diplomatic relations on January 16, 1986, and later in a summit meeting of the two presidents in Hague, Holland, which had great historical and emotional importance. Mr. Micha Harish organized and participated in this meeting.

 The program then continued with detailed expositions by the following distinguished representatives of Spain in the event:

 · Sr. Fernando Carderera Soler, Spain's Ambassador to Israel, talked about the bilateral relations between Spain and Israel, and the economic presence of Spain and Spanish companies in Israel. He also explained why now is the best moment to invest or do business in Spain. His detailed descriptions and explanations showed his high degree of expertise in diplomatic, cultural and economic affairs and relations between Spain and Israel.

· Dr. Enrique Barón Crespo, Ex-President of the EU Parliament and Spanish Minister of Transport, talked about the Spanish Economy and the opportunities that it offers to the Israeli business community. Dr. Barón Crespo has held an incredible number of political responsibilities, academic functions and other posts, which shows his high degree of expertise in diplomatic, cultural and economic affairs in EU, and particularly Spain. He mentioned the fact that while young he was interested in the agricultural advances in Israel, and spent time living in two kibutz establishments. He was also instrumental in the in the start of diplomatic relations between Spain and Israel.

· Sr. Lope Llamazares Rodriguez, Regional Director of Exports of the Plimon/Textron Group from Barcelona, talked about the business culture of the Spanish businessmen.

· Mr. Henrique Cymerman, acclaimed journalist of Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia and Antena 3 TV channel, talked about Barça Vs. Real: is it only sport, or also economy and politics?

· Mr. Micha Harish then closed the event with a summary.

This event was organized with the significant help of the CCIE's Directive Commission lead by Mr. Eyal Oren.

The program moderator was Moshe Shoham, General Director of the Israel-Spain Friendship Association.

About CCIE, Micha Harish, and the Israel-Spain Commerce Community:

CCIE is undergoing renewal under the leadership of Mr. Micha Harish. Since Israel's was founded, efforts were made to establish diplomatic and economic relations between Israel and Spain. Mr. Micha Harish worked ceaselessly for the establishment of formal relations between the two countries in 1986, and for the building and strengthening of the bilateral commerce relations while holding the post of Minister of Commerce and Industry under Prime Ministers Rabin and Peres. Micha Harish accepted the post of President of the CCIE, after being approached a few months ago by Sr. Fernando Carderera Soler, Spain's Ambassador to Israel, and asked to take this post. He was also requested to do so by Mr. Haim Aharon‎‏, President of the Federation of Bi-National Commerce Chambers, and other distinguished personnel.

Spain is presently getting in the stage of economic recovery from the economic crisis in the world. Previous experiences in such crises in the world show that one of the outcomes following these crises outcome is the opening of many new business opportunities. This is the time to boost the economic enterprises between Israel and Spain, and the CCIE can contribute significantly to the establishment of new initiatives and commercial opportunities for Israeli and Spanish companies, for the benefit of both countries.