An event held in Jerusalem on 29 May entitled: ‘Israel Asia: Visions of the Future From the Next Generation’ – brought together young Asian visionaries, who are actively engaged in promoting Israel-Asia relations, to discuss what’s next in the Israel-Asia relationship.
Moderating the event was Start-Up Nation co-author, Saul Singer. A best-seller in India and Singapore, the book has been translated into Japanese, Korean and Chinese, and is recommended reading for government officials in China’s Jiangsu province.
Speaking on the interactive panel were graduating fellows including: Howe Wang from China, Sharon Teo from Singapore, Lee Jae Eun from South Korea and Dr. Vasudheva Reddy Akepati from India.
At the event, Israel-Asia Center founder and executive director, Rebecca Zeffert, quoted from Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, in his call for Israel “to form links with the people of Asia...to find room for more of their youth in our institutions of higher learning and facilitate practical training... in an attitude of humility and fraternity.”
“Ben Gurion’s recommendations couldn’t be more relevant than they are today,” she said. “He saw the potential in people-to-people cooperation – that by working together to find shared solutions to common challenges, we could build a shared future between Israel and countries in Asia.”
“There is kind of this tendency of Israel to focus west, because that’s what’s familiar and that’s been our image of where the market is,” said Saul Singer. “We need to start looking in another direction. The world 10-15 years from now is going to be a very different place,” he added.
Much of the focus of the panelists was on Israel’s innovative and entrepreneurial culture. Wang, said, “What really drives the seed of innovation [in Israel] is the mentality of constantly being unsatisfied.” However, Dr. Akepati, said that in Israel, there is less awareness of Asia. “We talk about globalization, but most of my [Israeli] friends know very little about India. We need to start thinking about innovating together.”
“Singapore has a lot of lessons to learn from Israel in entrepreneurship and innovation,” said Teo adding that Singapore has pursued a very strong economic policy and is extremely open to new ideas – especially in education.
Wang said he saw great potential for Israel and China to work together on oil independence. “That’s a topic the Chinese government would welcome a discussion on. Regarding China, it is important to show the real value you can bring to them.”
Lee Jae Eun, compared Israel’s and Korea’s political and security situation, but said Israel could learn something from Korea’s ability to promote its positives, such as Korean industry and culture, food, and its strength in building a good image.
Architect of Israel’s pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, Haim Dotan, who attended the event, asked the fellows what they saw as their world in 30 years from now.
“We are going to be the ones who will shape our governments. Governments are shaped for the people, by the people, and we are the people,” said Teo. Wang saw that the world will be more of a transparent place with technology development.
The event marked the conclusion of the 2011-12 Israel Asia Leaders Fellowship, an 8-month programme. The programme supplements the university studies of high-caliber Asian students studying in Israel. The fellowship comprised twelve fellows from across Asia, ranging from bachelors students to post-doctorate researchers, in a variety of fields from cleantech and agritech to Holocaust education and Middle Eastern studies.
Director of the North-East Asia Division at the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hagai Shagrir, commended the Israel Asia Center for this initiative and all the partners who made the Israel-Asia Leaders Fellowship a reality.
“Your initiative at the Israel-Asia Center is exactly the thing that we encourage and we commend you for that and we commend the 12 leaders fellows who took part in this initiative...we are seeing them as emissaries and ambassadors and as a bridge between Israel and Asia.”
Jewish Times Asia - July / August 2012