"Israel must know how to connect with small businesses in Germany, not just with giant companies"

"For me, handing over the Arrow system to Germany today is the closing of a circle. This time, Israel is the one protecting Europe," said Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor at the Mind the Tech Berlin 2025 conference, organized by Calcalist and Bank Leumi. Speaking alongside Prosor was Andreas Jahn, a member of the federal executive board representing small and medium-sized businesses in Germany, in a conversation with Calcalist’s Netally Binshtock.

Prosor said: "I am very happy to be here, and it is a great privilege. I want to say something that goes beyond the Arrow system being delivered to Germany today. I don’t know how many people know that I have German roots, my father was born here, and my grandmother and grandfather were proud Prussians. My mother brought them to Israel in 1933. Think of it: I am delivering the Arrow system to Germany today. This is closing a circle. After 76 years, our country is defending Germany and Europe, and this demonstrates our security resilience and cooperation with Germany. It is remarkable that despite the war, Israel committed to delivering the system within two years, and met this deadline. Israelis fulfill their commitments. Germany’s main business ecosystem is composed of large and small companies, which Andreas represents. Israel must know how to connect with these businesses, not just the giants like Siemens, Bosch, and others."

When asked about the areas in which Israel can operate and strengthen itself in Germany, Jahn said: "We have a large community of businesses that supports Israel in every situation and challenge. Our relations are stable and strong, without question. There are several sectors where cooperation is particularly strong, including transportation, security, technology, and IoT."

On which areas of cooperation between the two countries should be further expanded, Prosor said: "One of them is the space sector, which is both important and significant. Another is government digitization, which is critical in Germany. Time and speed are crucial in today’s technological world. In Israel, it is important not only to be innovative and question everything, but also to act quickly, because the competition will not wait."

Regarding whether the recent war affected German businesses’ willingness to cooperate with Israeli partners, Jahn noted: "There was some impact, but we are moving forward. We need to return to collaborations, particularly in the chip sector, where Germany has much to contribute."

Prosor added: "The key word is necessity. Israel is necessary for Germany. Ultimately, Germany ended World War II understanding that it must defend itself, and Israel has the capabilities to help, whether through the Arrow battery arriving here within two years or in other areas."

When asked what advice they would give to young Israeli entrepreneurs considering entering the German market, Jahn said: "Look for good partners who can accelerate your activity and find companies that understand how to reach the German market. Don’t be afraid to enter this market. Also, be prepared to navigate significant German bureaucracy."

Prosor concluded: "Patience. Israelis have everything, except patience. You have to make decisions based on experience, often gained from previous mistakes and failures. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and fail."

Watch the full exchange in the video above.