19th Caesarea Economic Policy Planning Forum (2011)

	Event Date(s): 6/18/2011 - 6/19/2011
	Date Published: 5/15/2011	Last Updated: 5/6/2012
	Category: Events

On Sunday and Monday June 19-20, 2011, IDI convened the 19th Caesarea Economic Policy Planning Forum. Established in 1993, the Forum is widely recognized as Israel’s most influential economic conference. This annual forum gathers together government officials, prominent businessmen, public servants, economists, leading academics, and other top representatives from the public and private sectors for intensive discussion of the key challenges facing the Israeli economy. This year, for the first time, the Forum met at The College of Management–Academic Studies in Rishon Letzion.

Photo of session on ultra-Orthodox at 2011 Caesarea Forum

MK Moshe Gafni, IDI President Dr. Arye Carmon, and Finance Minister Dr. Yuval Steinitz at the 2011 Forum

Distinguished speakers at this year’s Forum include:

Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Israeli Minister of Finance
Prof. Stanley Fischer, Governor of the Bank of Israel
Ms. Abby Joseph Cohen, President, Global Markets Institute, Goldman Sachs
Prof. Niall Ferguson, Harvard University
Prof. Jacob Frenkel, Chairman, JPMorgan Chase International
Dr. Edward L. Morse, Global Head of Commodities Research, Citigroup Inc.
Ms. Susan Pointer, Google Inc’s Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, Southern and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa
Prof. José Viñals, International Monetary Fund

An overview of the main sessions at this year’s conference follows. Abstracts and working group recommendations for the sessions can be accessed through the green links in the overview. The full schedule of events can be found below.

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Download the booklet of abstracts of the reports of the working groups (English)

Download the booklet of full reports of the working groups (Hebrew)

Main Sessions of the 19th Caesarea Economic Forum

Israeli Young Adults: Ages 18-22
In order to ensure its long-term viability, it is vital that Israel's economy respond to trends in the demographic, sociological, and psychological development of Israel's young adult population. For this reason, this year’s Caesarea Economic Forum opened with a session devoted to young adults aged 18-22, in order to create a platform for immediate, effective improvements, which will hopefully enhance Israel’s ability to build a flourishing, equitable economy. This session was comprised of the following presentations:

The Forgotten Age in the Ultra-Orthodox Sector
Can the integration of Ultra-Orthodox young adults help fuel Israel’s red-hot economy and foster a better society? An up-to-date picture of the status of employment opportunities and academic studies among young adults in the Haredi sector was presented.
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The Invisible Age in the Arab Sector
IDI Senior Fellow Dr. Momi Dahan and Prof. Zvi Eckstein, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Israel, presented data on the employment and academic situation of young adults in the Arab Sector. Key findings show that 40% of Arab young adults either are unemployed or not in school, as compared to 17% of youth in the same age group in the Jewish sector.
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Military Enlistment: A New Approach
Should Israel maintain its universal draft or move to a volunteer army? The working group for this topic issued five papers on the desired model for army service in Israel. Among the presenters, IDI Senior Fellow Prof. Avi Ben-Bassat proposed a model for reducing the period of mandatory IDF service, and Major General Avi Zamir, head of the IDF Personnel Directorate, presented the IDF’s perspective on the "army of the people."
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The Finance Minister's Session
A highlight of the first day of the conference was an address by Israeli Minister of Finance Dr. Yuval Steinitz, who uses this annual platform to speak out on a variety of economic issues on the government's agenda.
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The Internet Economy in Israel: A Growth Engine for the Future?
The 2011 Forum included a session on the findings of Google's innovative, international study on the influence of the Internet on the global economy. The Israeli research was initiated and funded by Google Israel, and compiled by McKinsey Israel. Ms. Dana Maor, Managing Partner of McKinsey Israel, presented the findings of the local study, which examined the size of the Internet-based economy in Israel, Internet usage, and employment in the local Internet economy in various sectors.
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Cutting the Red Tape—A Boon to the Economy?
The second day of the conference openned with a session focusing on bureaucracy and the amount of influence the public sector has on the private sector in Israel. Panelists in this session included representatives from the Finance Ministry, the Government Purchasing Operations Division, and the Israel Federation of Independent Organizations.
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The Governor of the Bank of Israel's Session
A highlight of the second day of the forum was an address in which Prof. Stanley Fischer, Governor of the Bank of Israel, surveyed the current state of the Israeli economy. While lauding Israel’s achievements in the midst of the recent global recession, he cautioned that the economy still faces challenges.
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The Global Economy and Israel
Chaired by Mr. Jacob Frenkel, Chairman of JPMorgan Chase International, this session included an English panel discussion of macro economic trends in the global economy and their impact on the Israeli economy. The international panel was comprised of Prof. Niall Ferguson of Harvard University; Dr. Edward L. Morse, Citigroup’s Global Head of Commodities Research; Professor José Viñals, Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department of the International Monetary Fund, and Ms. Abby Joseph Cohen, Senior Investment Strategist and President of the Global Markets Institute at Goldman Sachs.
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Full Program (Subject to Change)

19th Caesarea Economic Policy Planning Forum

June 19–20, 2011

Forum Chair: Minister of Finance Dr. Yuval Steinitz

The College of Management Academic Studies

Day 1: Sunday, June 19, 2011
09:00 – 09:30	Registration
09:30 – 12:15	YOUNG ADULTS: AGES 18 – 22 Discussion in Two Groups
Group A: 09:30 – 10:55	The Forgotten Age in the Ultra-Orthodox Sector Moderator: Dr. Arye Carmon, President, Israel Democracy Institute Presentation of working group recommendations: Dr. Reuven Gal, Head of Project Integrating the Ultra-Orthodox Sector into the Israeli Economy, Samuel Neaman Institute, Technion Mr. Gilad Malach, Project Integrating the Ultra-Orthodox Sector, Samuel Neaman Institute, Technion Mr. Hagay Levin, Senior Economist, National Economic Council, Prime Minister's Office Dr. Aviad Hacohen, Dean, Sha’arei Mishpat Academic College, Van Leer Jerusalem Institute Dr. Lee Cahaner, Researcher, The Israel Democracy Institute Respondents: Prof. Dan Ben-David, Executive Director, Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel Ms. Naomi Perl, Director, BA Program, Ron Shulamit Conservatory; Project Development for the Ultra-Orthodox Community, Mandel Leadership Institute Mr. Sharon Kedmi, Director General, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Rabbi Yitzhak Ravitz, Director of Ultra-Orthodox Projects, JDC–Israel Prof. Avi Ben-Bassat, Senior Fellow, Israel Democracy Institute Ms. Mor Shamgar-Shapira, VP, Pach Taas, Ltd. Rabbi Tzvi Schreiber, Manager, Student Guidance Center, Kemach Foundation Ms. Orna Segal, CEO, Manpower Israel
10:55 – 12:15	Discussion
Group B: 09:30 – 10:45	The Invisible Age in the Arab Sector Moderator: Prof. Zvi Eckstein, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Israel; Academic Advisor to Caesarea Economic Forum Presentation of Working Group Recommendations: Dr. Momi Dahan, Senior Fellow, Israel Democracy Institute; School of Public Policy and Government, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Respondents: MK Prof. Avishay Braverman, Former Minister of Minority Affairs Prof. Moshe Arens, Former Minister of Defense Mr. Yarom Ariav, Former Director General, Ministry of Finance Mr. Ayman Saif, Director General, Economic Development Authority of the Arab, Druze, and Circassian Sectors Ms. Nitza Kasir, Research Division, Bank of Israel Dr. Nabil Khattab, Senior Researcher, Israel Democracy Institute Ms. Dalia Narkis, Regional Managing Director, Eastern Mediterranean Countries, Manpower Group
10:45 – 12:15	Discussion
12:30 – 14:00	Lunch THE FINANCE MINISTER'S SESSION Greetings by the President of The College of Management Academic Studies, Prof. Zeev Neuman Address by Finance Minister, Dr. Yuval Steinitz
14:15 – 14:45	Summaries of the morning sessions Group Reports
14:45 – 15:45	Joint Plenary Session MK Moshe Gafni, Chair, Knesset Finance Committee Mr. Chaim (Jumas) Oron, Former MK and Chairman of Meretz MK Hanna Swaid, Parliamentary Group Chair of Hadash
15:45 – 19:00	Continuation of the session on Young Adults Ages 18-22 Military Enlistment – A New Approach
15:45 – 16:45	Presentation of working group recommendations: Mr. Yossi Kucik, Owner, Kucik – Entrepreneurship Management and Consulting Ltd.; former Director General, Prime Minister's Office; former Director General of Wages, Ministry of Finance Prof. Avi Ben-Bassat, Senior Fellow, Israel Democracy Institute Prof. Asher Tishler, Dean, Faculty of Management, Tel Aviv University Major General Avi Zamir, Head of Personnel Directorate, IDF
16:45 – 17:45	Respondents: Lt. General (res.) Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, Former IDF Chief of Staff; Board Chairman, TAHAL MK Yohanan Plesner, Head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Subcommittee on the Tal Law; Kadima Party member Mr. Ofer Shelah, Journalist; reporter, Channel 10 News Prof. Omer Moav, Department of Economics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Major General (res.) Yiftach Ron-Tal, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Israel Electric Company
17:45 – 19:15	Plenary Discussion
19:15 – 20:00	Dinner
20:00 – 22:00	THE INTERNET ECONOMY IN ISRAEL: A GROWTH ENGINE FOR THE FUTURE Ms. Susan Pointer, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, Southern and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Google International Representative *The Internet – Opportunities for the Taking* Google's Project Examining the Influence of the Internet on the Israeli Economy –Research by McKinsey Israel Presenter: Ms. Dana Maor, Managing Partner, McKinsey Israel Opinion Leaders and Decision Makers Deliberate on Advancing the Internet Economy: Mr. Meir Brand, CEO, Google Israel Prof. Asher Tishler, Dean, Faculty of Management, Tel Aviv University Mr. Eden Bar Tal, Director General, Ministry of Communications Mr. Sharon Kedmi, Director General, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Mr. Alon Carmeli, Director, Babylon Prof. Zeev Neuman, President, College of Management Academic Studies Plenary Discussion

Monday, June 20, 2011
08:30 – 09:00	Arrival Greetings by Adv. Yehuda Raveh, Chairman of the Board of Governors, The College of Management Academic Studies: member of the Aufit Committee of The Israel Democracy Institute
09:00 – 13:00	CUTTING RED TAPE – A BOON TO THE ECONOMY?
09:00 – 11:00	Opening Remarks: Minister Michael Eitan, Minister of Improvement of Government Services Presentation of the Ministry of Finance: Mr. Haim Shani, Director General, Ministry of Finance Dr. Udi Nissan, Director of Budgets Department, Ministry of Finance Presenters: Mr. Motty Shapira, Director, LAHAV – Israeli Federation of Independent Organizations Mr. Shahar Ziv, CPA, Managing Partner, BDO Ziv Haft Respondents: Mr. Shraga Brosh, President, Manufacturer’s Association of Israel Adv. Avraham Well, Senior Partner, Fischer, Behar, Chen, Orion, Well & Co. Prof. Assaf Hamdani, Faculty of Law, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Mr. Zvi Oren, CEO, Amit Local Industries Ltd.; Chairman of the Labor Committee, Israeli Union of Industrialists Dr. Roberto Della Rocca, Quality and Health Director, Shufersal Ltd.
11:00 – 12:45	Plenary Discussion Concluding Remarks: Mr. David Brodet, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bank Leumi
12:45 – 14:00	THE GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF ISRAEL'S SESSION Lunch Greetings by Rishon Letzion Mayor, Mr. Dov Zur Address by the Governor of the Bank of Israel, Prof. Stanley Fischer
14:15 – 19:30	THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND ISRAEL
14:15 – 14:30	Presentations of the two panels: International Perspectives, Local Perspectives Prof. Jacob A. Frenkel, Chairman, JPMorgan Chase International; Chairman, Group of Thirty (G30); former Governor of the Bank of Israel
14:30 – 15:45	International Perspectives Prof. Niall Ferguson, Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History at Harvard University; William Ziegler Professor at Harvard Business School Prof. José Viñals, Financial Counsellor and Director, Monetary and Capital Markets Department, International Monetary Fund Dr. Edward L. Morse, Global Head of Commodities Research for Citigroup Inc. Ms. Abby Joseph Cohen, Senior Investment Strategist and President, Global Markets Institute, Goldman Sachs
15:45 – 16:45	Local Perspectives Mr Haim Shani, Director General, Ministry of Finance Ms. Ofra Strauss, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Strauss Group Mr. Shlomo Dovrat, Founding Partner, Viola Group; Chairman of the Board, Israel Democracy Institute Mr. Avi Fischer, Deputy Chairman, IDB Group Ms. Smadar Barber-Tsadik, Director, First International Bank of Israel Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg, Chairman, Planning and Budget Committee, Council for Higher Education
16:45 – 17:30	Respondents: Prof. Eugene Kandel, Director, National Economic Council Mr. Shraga Brosh, President, Manufacturer’s Association of Israel Mr. David Brodet, Chairman, Bank Leumi Mr. Barry Topf, Member, Monetary Committee, Bank of Israel Dr. Yacov Sheinin, President, CEO and Chief Economist, Economic Models Ltd. Mr. Yehuda Zisapel, Chairman of the Board, Israel Association of Electronics & Software Industries
17:30 – 18:40	Plenary Discussion
18:40 – 19:20	A Small Country in a Global World The Viewpoint of the International Panel, moderated by Prof. Jacob Frenkel
19:00 – 19:20	Prof. Stanley Fischer, The Viewpoint of the Governor of the Bank of Israel
19:20 - 20:00	Concluding Remarks: Minister of Finance, Dr. Yuval Steinitz