The largest ever delegation of Israeli companies, who are accompanying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a historic two-day visit to Australia, will meet with business and government leaders this week in Sydney as both nations seek to forge closer ties.
Prominent business leaders including tech venture capitalist Paul Bassat, the co-founder of SEEK and Square Peg Capital, businessman, investor and former Hoyts Cinemas chief executive Peter Ivany and non-executive director Jillian Segal will be among those attending a range of meetings during the visit.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will host Mr Netanyahu, the first sitting Israeli prime minister to visit Australia.
The meetings, which begin on Tuesday, have been kept secret even from participants until the last minute amid tight security. Many Australian business leaders contacted by The Australian Financial Review declined to comment because of the sensitivity and security around Mr Netanyahu’s visit.
Mr Netanyahu’s arrival in Australia, after his meeting with US president Donald Trump, comes amid controversy for him at home. In Israel, he’s facing a corruption investigation. Gaming billionaire James Packer has been caught up in the investigation after he was accused of giving lavish gifts to Mr Netanyahu and his family.
The group of 23 Israeli companies visiting Australia span energy, technology and medical innovations, and their arrival comes after the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce led 20 business and government trade and investment delegations to Israel last year.
Read the full article by Anne Hyland at the Australian Financial Review.