Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is heading a 40-person delegation to Israel that arrived today. Pawlenty will participate in next week's "Globes" Israel Business Conference 2008, where he will try to "market" - his word - the state to Israelis.
In an interview with "Globes" on the eve of his departure, Pawlenty said that the goal of his visit was to build strategic relations between Minnesota and Israel, and to seek Israeli investment in venture and companies in the state. "Israel has a healthy economy, which is similar to Minnesota's in stressing innovation, research, and development," he said. "This visit is an opportunity for companies from Minnesota, especially in high tech, to create ties with potential and promising partners for reseach or trade."
Pawlenty, a Republican, was mentioned as a possible running mate for Senator John McCain. Pawlenty said that he would meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and possibly the heads of other parties, but that he would avoid political issues during the visit. "As you know, I am not the vice president," he kidded.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 11, 2008
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