Speeches

Statements by Senior

Embassy Officials

Ambassador Richard H. Jones Remarks

at Klil-Alcoa Event

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Mr. Richtman I am delighted to be here this evening, enjoying the Mediterranean breeze at this wonderful location.  The management and leadership of both Alcoa Building and Construction Systems as well as Klil Industries should be proud not only of the strategic venture that they are launching this evening, but also their contribution to the health of the America-Israel economic relationship.

U.S.-Israeli trade grew 14% in 2006, to over $27 billion. U.S. exports to Israel grew 20%, to over $8 billion.  The magnitude of this trade reflects the strength [many “extra-economic” synergies] of the overall U.S.-Israel relationship, which reflects in turn our cultural understanding and our shared political and economic vision.  Of course, bringing it more down to earth, our strong trade relation also results from our own similar standards of living as well as similarities in our everyday consumer tastes and preferences.  I hope that as a result of your new venture, we will see these numbers climb even higher next year – and, at the risk of appearing too much of wild-eyed optimist, that they begin to move into balance.

Figures aside, it is a pleasure to witness two companies, one Israeli and the other American, creating a win-win venture.

Klil Industries and Alcoa Building & Construction Systems:  Klil is Israel’s largest aluminum window and door manufacturer.  It is a well-known brand – you might call it a “household” name in Israel, which has recently begun to expand its global presence with sales of hurricane protection paneling to the billion-dollar-plus Florida market, and which is also set to expand its sales into Tennessee and South Carolina.

Alcoa Building and Construction Systems is a leading supplier of state-of-the-art architectural systems to the global construction market.  It is part of a large, exciting company: Alcoa, the world's leading aluminum company, which has 131,000 employees in 43 countries and $23.5 billion in annual revenues.  Despite these impressive figures, Alcoa products had previously been brought into Israel on a limited basis only- - - until now.

Israel is sometimes called the second Silicon Valley, and with the growth of businesses and demand for office space, the $500 million market for curtain walls is eager to see the entry of a first-class U.S. competitor.   I am thrilled!

1. Both companies will benefit from this joint venture.  Klil will have access to the know-how of Alcoa to manufacture Alcoa aluminum products, which I understand may be used in the construction of 140 high rises that will be built in Israel.   For its part, Alcoa stands to benefit greatly from Klil’s long-standing history as a leader in the Israeli construction and building industry, attested to by the fact that Klil is ranked among the leading 100 industrial companies in Israel, and which maintains strict standards for development that guarantees high quality, durable products. 

I am probably not the only person in the room wondering why this didn’t happen earlier.  However, instead of pondering that question, let me simply thank you for allowing me to join you this evening as we celebrate this venture.  I wish you success in the coming years! 

Good night.