The Israel Economic and Trade Mission to the Philippines: Powering The Future Together
Ofek Venecianer
The Israel Economic and Trade Mission to the Philippines represents Israel’s Ministry of Economy and Industry, strengthening trade and investment ties between Israel and the Philippines. It connects businesses, facilitates partnerships, and promotes Israeli technologies in key sectors like cybersecurity, agriculture, water management, healthcare, energy, and high-tech innovation. The mission organizes B2B meetings, trade delegations, and exhibitions, helping companies navigate regulations and explore market opportunities. It serves as a bridge for economic collaboration and growth between the two countries. With that, why don’t you join me in learning more about the Israel Economic and Trade Mission to the Philippines with its Head, Ofek Venecianer.
After graduating, what brought you to join the Ministry of Economy and Industry over other public sector opportunities?
After graduating, I wanted to pursue a career where I could create a meaningful impact beyond my personal life. My background is in education, and I initially thought teaching would be my path since it also allows you to influence others. However, after working as an administrative assistant at the Israeli Embassy in Nepal—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic—I realized I wanted to be in a role that connects different markets and facilitates collaboration on a larger scale.
The experience of facing a global pandemic far from home, coupled with the universal challenges that the world had to confront and overcome through technology, underscored the importance of global cooperation and innovation for me. That experience showed me the power of technology and global cooperation, and I knew I wanted a position that blended public service with private sector engagement. When I returned to Israel, I discovered the Economic Attaché role at the Ministry of Economy and Industry, which aligned perfectly with what I was looking for.

Can you briefly describe the mission and its primary goals in the Philippines?
As the head of the Israeli Economic and Trade Mission, we help bridge the gap between the Philippine and Israeli markets, facilitating partnerships, B2B connections, delegations, and joint projects across various industries.
Our team in Manila is small but specialized, with each member becoming an expert in different sectors. Being the youngest attaché globally among my counterparts in the Israeli Foreign Trade Administration, I wish to bring to this role a fresh perspective and an open-minded approach to this dynamic and growing market. I chose to come to the Philippines because of its vibrant business landscape, and in just a few months, I’ve already seen the potential for strong collaborations. I’m excited for what’s ahead and eager to contribute further to strengthening economic ties between our countries.
What are the key industries you focus on when fostering partnerships between Israel and the Philippines?
Our goal is to further develop the economic ties between the countries by focusing on the most relevant sectors and developing new ones. One of the sectors where we identify higher interest from both Israeli and Philippine sides is cybersecurity and homeland security (HLS). Israel is a global powerhouse in cybersecurity, with one-third of the world’s cybersecurity unicorns coming from Israeli companies. Our solutions are highly advanced, and there is a strong demand for them in the Philippine market. Beyond cybersecurity, we also focus on investments and startup innovation. Israel is known as the "Startup Nation," with over 7,000 active startups as of 2024. Many VCs worldwide seek to diversify their portfolios with Israeli startups, and we aim to strengthen our investment partnerships in 2025.
Another major focus is agriculture and water technology. Given Israel’s natural resource limitations, we had no choice but to develop cutting-edge solutions in desalination, precision agriculture, and food security. These innovations align with the Philippines’ needs, particularly in water management and sustainable food production. Healthcare and energy are also key sectors. Israel has pioneered medical technology and health solutions, and we actively explore opportunities for collaboration in these areas. Energy, in particular, will be a top priority for 2025 as the world faces growing energy challenges. With the dry season approaching and demand for power rising, we see a great opportunity to introduce Israeli energy innovations to the Philippine market.
How do you select and support businesses from both countries to participate in your B2B meetings, trade shows, and delegations?
Our approach is to remain open and accessible to all companies interested in collaboration. Any Israeli company looking to enter the Philippine market can reach out to us for support, and we’re equally open to Philippine companies, government agencies, and organizations seeking Israeli technologies and partnerships. Our role is to facilitate connections and ensure the right match between both sides.
We organize B2B meetings, trade shows, and delegations, both in-person and virtual. In addition to delegations, we also participate in major international and local exhibitions. For example, in November 2024, we joined Medica, a leading healthcare expo in Germany, where we facilitated strong partnerships between Israeli and Philippine companies. We’re also involved in events like the Mobile World Congress (MWC), where 32 Israeli companies will showcase their innovations this year. Moving forward, we will actively invite Israeli companies to local exhibitions in Manila to increase engagement with the Philippine market.
Beyond large-scale events, we also support customized business matchmaking. If a Philippine company, government agency, or distributor is looking for a specific Israeli solution, we scout the Israeli ecosystem to find the best fit. We then shortlist three to four companies and facilitate introductions. It is important to mention that the business culture between Israel and the Philippines is different. The local staff at the Mission is very helpful in bridging this gap to Israeli and Philippine companies alike.
Can you share success stories of Filipino-Israeli business partnerships facilitated by the Mission?
One of our most well-known success stories is the partnership between LR Group and Metro Pacific Group to establish a new dairy farm and vegetable greenhouse in the Philippines. Dairy production has long been a challenge in the country—it’s difficult to find fresh milk in supermarkets, despite strong demand. This partnership not only addresses that need but also integrates Israeli agricultural technologies to enhance milk production, maintain high quality, and prevent diseases in cows. It’s a great example of how Israeli expertise can help boost local industries. Another exciting success story is the collaboration between Loggino and Iris lines in the maritime logistics sector. They are working on smart shipping solutions, which is a growing field. As we explore maritime innovation in 2025, we expect to see even more collaborations like this emerge. A third success story is the partnership between Maynilad and Asterra, which provides a satellite-based water leakage detection system. Their technology allows real-time monitoring of water leaks from space, helping to reduce water waste and improve infrastructure management.
What does the Mission have in store this 2025? Any upcoming plans or initiatives?
For 2025, we are planning seven Israeli business delegations to the Philippines—a highly ambitious initiative that reflects our commitment. We believe that physical presence is key. Israeli companies need to see the market, build personal connections, and ask the right questions, while Philippine businesses need to meet their potential partners face-to-face to establish trust and confidence. As long as a company is serious about collaboration, we are here to support them.
We are excited to announce a series of delegations scheduled for 2025, focusing on sectors such as Safe and Smart Cities, Cosmetics, Healthcare, Maritime, Cybersecurity, Agriculture, and Investments. Additionally, following Israel's official membership as the 69th member of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in September 2024,we are committed to promoting and assisting Israeli companies interested in participating in ADB projects.
We invite readers interested in collaborating with us or joining any of these activities to reach out. We look forward to establishing new connections and exploring potential partnerships.
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Ofek Venecianer is the Head of the Israel Economic and Trade Mission to the Philippines. Under her leadership, the Mission is able to strengthen economic ties between Israel and the Philippines through partnerships, business delegations, and promoting investment opportunities for both countries among others. As seen in Ofek, she is passionate about creating an impact for the economies of both countries.
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