About 

At the Canada-Israel Chamber of Commerce (CICC), we pride ourselves as a national organization providing a forum in which companies, industry professionals and individuals convene to share ideas, network, or engage in bilateral trade or investment.

History 

The CICC has a rich 50-year history of promoting business, investment and trade between Canada and Israel.

The CICC was originally incorporated in the late 1970s by Canadian community leaders that sought to promote greater ties between business communities in Canada and Israel by encouraging creative innovation between the two countries.  Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the CICC served as a platform to connect Canadian and Israeli businesses, government agencies and other institutions.  It also served as an introductory facilitator between Canadian and Israeli businesspeople in the Jewish community and beyond, a role which the CICC continues to serve to this day.

The CICC played a significant part in the creation of the Canada–Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA), which was signed in 1996 and enhanced in 2002, 2003 and 2015 with our support.  The CIFTA was Canada’s first free trade agreement outside of the Western Hemisphere and the CICC is proud of its role in this signature achievement in Canada-Israel relations. 

Today, the CICC continues to monitor and encourage further engagement to increase investment and trade between Israel and Canada across new fields of activity, products and services, with a particular focus on technology sectors.

Mission Statement
The Canada-Israel Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to strengthening Canada’s commercial and economic ties with Israel by bringing together people, ideas, and capital to promote trade, investment, partnership, and shared values between the two nations.

Overview

The Canada-Israel Chamber of Commerce is managed by its Board of Directors, who have set up various Board Committees to oversee the business and affairs of the CICC. 

The day-to-day activities of the CICC are managed by the organization’s Executive Committee.

Board Members

  • AJ Silber, President and Chair
  • Ayal Twik
  • Azita Hekmati
  • Brent Arnold, Vice President & Secretary
  • Brian Lee Crowley
  • Darin Brock
  • David Applebaum
  • David Friedland
  • Dori Segal
  • Gil Blutrich
  • Jacques Shore, National Vice President
  • Jeffrey Altmann
  • Jenny Chernobelsky
  • Jessica Rotenberg
  • Jonathan Freeman
  • Loren Shore
  • Meir Klein, Executive Vice President
  • Norman Godfrey
  • Paul Budovitch, Senior Vice President
  • Ran Mesterman
  • Robert Preisz
  • Sonya Meloff
  • Sophie Galper
  • Stefania Szabo, Vice President
  • Ziki Zaffir

In addition, there are several other Board Committees that have specific mandates in areas that are critical to the operation of the CICC.  They include the following:

  • Cross-Border Economic Opportunities Committee – responsible for facilitating commerce among stakeholders
  • Events Committee – responsible for planning and executing events
  • Finance & Governance Committee - responsible for managing financial and corporate affairs
  • Fundraising & Friends Committee Partnerships - responsible for raising money and other support from stakeholders
  • Partnerships & Communications Committee – responsible for community relations and media

For further information on CICC’s corporate governance or to speak with any member of these board committees please email us.