Businessmen Reluctant to Join Israeli Minister on Official Trips Amid Political Unrest

Ministry of Economy and Industry faced difficulties in recruiting businessmen to accompany Minister Nir Barkat on his official trips to Vietnam and Singapore. The businessmen's reluctance stems from their protest against the government's recent coup d'état, of which Barkat's government is a part.

Barkat's first stop is Vietnam, where he is scheduled to depart tomorrow for a four-day visit. During his stay in the capital city, Hanoi, he will actively participate in economic forum discussions, tour various industrial plants across the country, and partake in a celebratory reception at the ambassador's residence. Subsequently, Barkat will head to Singapore, where he is set to remain until the middle of the following week. His Singapore itinerary includes meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister and several other ministers.

Despite meticulous planning, the somber atmosphere in Israel due to the ongoing political turmoil has cast a shadow over Barkat's Asian ventures. Typically, official trips led by senior ministers involve large delegations, but in this case, the delegations accompanying Barkat will comprise only ten members each, reflecting the current unease.

The Ministry of Economy's foreign trade directorate faced obstacles in forming the delegations over the past month, with the final composition of the Singapore delegation still pending as of last week. These distinct delegations are tailored to the unique economic landscapes and business potential of the host countries.

The Vietnam delegation includes representatives from cyber, software, and artificial intelligence companies, as well as those from the field of desert agriculture. In contrast, the Singapore delegation comprises representatives from renewable energy, advanced industries, robotics, and environmental technologies.

Sources privy to the situation disclosed that numerous businessmen declined the invitation to join Barkat's trips due to the prevailing political climate. Some cited the economic downturn and expressed resentment towards a government they perceive as destabilizing the nation through its coup d'état.

One entrepreneur, who possesses substantial operations in Asia, particularly Vietnam, voiced his refusal to accompany Barkat, stating that the trip seemed to primarily benefit Barkat himself rather than the participants. He expressed his unwillingness to be a supporting cast member in what he perceived as Barkat's orchestrated presentation.

Furthermore, some businessmen questioned the necessity of Barkat's trips given a recent visit to Israel by a Vietnamese delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister Quang Tran and Minister of Trade and Industry Noh Hain Hong Dinh. This visit marked the celebration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the signing of a free trade area agreement between the two countries.

Despite the challenges, the Ministry of Economy responded by affirming that the delegations accompanying Barkat will indeed include representatives from approximately 20 companies, as initially planned. They emphasized that the visit aims to strengthen diplomatic relationships and foster increased trade between the countries, especially highlighted by the free trade agreement signed by Minister Barkat.

Trade between Israel and Singapore has shown robust growth, with 2022 witnessing a remarkable 67% increase in trade volume compared to the previous year. Similarly, the trade volume between Israel and Vietnam expanded by around 60% between 2017 and 2021.