Israel Establishes Consulate in China's Powerhouse Province to Grow Clean Technology

It’s always been natural for Israel to look to the West or Europe to capitalize on its clean technologies, through sales or investments. Recognizing the growing potential to the East, Israel recently launched a consulate general in the Guangzhou province of South China, the economic powerhouse of China.

Avraham Nir from Israel who will open the new center told China Daily that he hopes Israel’s presence there will strengthen ties between his country and South China. Besides high-tech, he sees Israel working with China on clean energy, water recycling and agriculture. Despite its dependence on coal for fuel, just this weekend China announced its desire to invest in clean technology, so the timing couldn’t be better.

Israel already has 2 other consulates in China — in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The Guangzhou consulate will cover the provinces of Guangdong, Hainan and Fujian, and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Nir pointed out Israel’s good track record in the water industry (even with China)– citing Israel as the world’s most efficient recycled water user touted in a recent United Nations report.

Israel is also advanced in dairy farming and solar technology, he said. And despite the economic downturn, trade between Israel and Guangdong increased this year, he added.

In 2007, trade between Israel and Guangdong was at about $1.3 billion.

::China Daily

More green news on Israel and China:
Israel and China Build Israel’s Largest Solar Power Plant
Israeli Architects Build Agro-Housing in China
Israel and China Make a Water Pact