The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Sunday embarked on its first full-scale mission to Israel, with the focus on the nation’s burgeoning life-sciences sector.

The U.S. Israel Business Initiative, a special section of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched in 2010, is meeting with key Israeli business and political leaders. A dozen high-ranking executives from major U.S. companies, including General Electric, Boston Scientific, Oracle, Merck, and MedImmune, are on the tour. Myron Brilliant, senior vice president of the Chamber of Commerce’s international division, is leading the delegation.

One of the main goals of the trip is to facilitate investment and cooperation between American companies and Israeli leaders in life-sciences industry, including companies that specialize in medical devices, bio-pharmaceutical firms, and genetic research. Over the next few days, executives on the Chamber's mission will meet with leaders in Israel’s life-sciences sector directly.

“There’s a real entrepreneurial spirit in Israel,” said Marc Perlman, global vice president, health care and life sciences, for Oracle. “It’s clear Prime Minister Netanyahu is very excited about Israeli innovation. When it comes to bringing investment into this country he gets it.”

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