"The Israel Export Institute is the Iron Dome that protects Israeli industry"

“The Export Institute is essentially the operational arm of Israel’s Foreign Trade Administration. We operate in every country where it’s possible to promote Israeli industry, and wherever we can market Israel, we do it,” said Avi Balashnikov, chairman of the Israel Export Institute, in an interview with Elihay Vidal at the Mind the Tech London 2025 conference, organized by Calcalist and Bank Leumi.

“We carry out our activities through delegations, national pavilions, exhibitions, and similar initiatives. We are active 24 hours a day wherever we can strengthen and upgrade Israeli industry. This is our mission, and this is why the institute was founded 80 years ago.”

Avi Balashnikov.

What do you actually do on the ground?

“We establish, manage, organize, and coordinate marketing activities for Israeli industry and exports. Our role is to encourage and promote them effectively, with the assistance and guidance of the Foreign Trade Administration in the Ministry of Economy and Industry.”

Do you work more with the Israeli side or with the foreign side?

“When you work abroad, you’re naturally working with foreign governments, organizations, and exhibitions. Together with the Ministry of Economy and Industry, we are responsible for marketing and upgrading Israeli products overseas.”

Now we are in a difficult period, and I assume that in the last two years the work has been different.

“Let there be no mistake, this is a battlefield. There is a security battlefield, and there is also an economic battlefield, which we’ve been engaged in for a long time. Our job is to be the economic unit of the country’s general staff. Whether through the economic attachés of the Ministry of Economy, who are stationed all over the world and do a tremendous job, or through the dozens of Export Institute employees working daily across the globe, we are on the front line.

“There is a security campaign here, a war, a just war. But at the same time, there is also a battle in the economic sphere. The State of Israel has been fortunate to have a strong economy and outstanding human capital. We have industrialists who built industries that are the pride of Israel, we have high-tech, we have ingenuity, initiative, and innovation. These are our diamonds. And we will win this battle. As the Export Institute, we will provide the strongest possible ‘Iron Dome’ for Israeli industry so it can continue exporting.”

How does this fit with the Prime Minister’s statement that we are heading toward an autarkic economy?

“Israeli citizens need to understand: the formulas are very simple. Strong exports equal a strong, healthy economy. A strong economy, in turn, provides economic security, which also supports the personal security of each and every one of us. I would not like to see Israel become isolated, none of us wants that. That’s why, under the leadership of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, we are working to serve as the Iron Dome that protects Israeli industry.

“The situation is not simple. We are in a time of war, and in such times we must think outside the box. We all need to roll up our sleeves and work differently. And we will win, because we have no other choice.”