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The Letter of Intent (LOI) signed during economic mission trip will strengthen New Jersey-Israel relationship by advancing innovation, workforce development and international education between the Port of Ashdod and the NJCU community

NEWARK, N.J. | announced that (NJCU) and the Port of Ashdod in Israel signed a letter of intent (LOI) that will help strengthen the economic relationship between the State of New Jersey and Israel, as well as between the Port of Ashdod and the NJCU community. NJCU and the Port of Ashdod will explore opportunities to collaborate on projects that will advance innovation, economic development and international education.

“The signing of the LOI with the Port of Ashdod further expands our international footprint by formalizing collaboration with our institution, the State of New Jersey and the nation of Israel at a time where critical conversations are being had on issues related to sustainability, climate change, and supply management,” said Sue Henderson, Ph.D., President of NJCU. “I am delighted that this unique partnership will further innovation with our NJCU School of Business and the Guarini Institute for International Education and Economic Mobility. This is yet another milestone in the continuation of our successful global initiative projects.”

The LOI was signed at the Port of Ashdod in Israel on Monday, November 15 by the following: Orna Hozman-Bechor, Ashdod Port Chairwoman; Shiko Zana, CEO of Ashdod Port; and Dr. Sue Henderson, President, NJCU. The LOI signing was attended by: Roy Avrahami, Chief Innovation Officer at Ashdod Port Company;  Dr. Bernard McSherry, Founding Dean of NJCU’s School of Business; Dr. Adrian Franco, inaugural Executive Director of the Guarini Institute at NJCU; and Andrew H. Gross, Executive Director of the New Jersey-Israel Commission, New Jersey Department of State.

“Ashdod Port is happy and excited about the collaboration between ����̽��, the Port of Newark and Ashdod Port. This is a unique opportunity for startups in Israel to work with Ashdod Port and the International Port of Newark,” said Shiko Zana, CEO of Ashdod Port. “In addition, the establishment of the first innovation embassy in the world is a unique move for Ashdod Port and we anticipate many pilots and collaborations between the various startups, the port and the embassy in New Jersey. The operational continuity of Ashdod Port is essential for the country's economy, and Ashdod Port has set itself the goal of promoting innovation as part of the port's ongoing activities.”

As the largest port in Israel, Ashdod Port has a program for maritime startup companies. The LOI signing will help bring these startup companies to NJCU for potential pilot programs and other opportunities at ports in New Jersey.

“The Guarini Institute at NJCU aims to advance economic mobility via innovative programs with international companies and entities,” said Dr. Adrian Franco, Executive Director Guarini Institute for International Education and Economic Mobility, NJCU. “The agreement with the Port of Ashdod is a compelling example of how we can build on the distinctive bond between Israel and New Jersey to advance our common goals. The Guarini Institute, the School of Business and the entire NJCU community is looking forward to implementing the objectives of the LOI and generating world-renowned innovations in port management in Ashdod and New Jersey.

Dr. Bernard McSherry, Founding Dean of NJCU’s School of Business, added “Recent disruptions to the global supply chain have focused attention on the need to modernize and strengthen the logistics of global trade. By drawing upon the NJCU School of Business’ expertise in Supply Chain, Logistics and Maritime Port Management and our Guarini Institute’s skill in fostering international exchanges, this groundbreaking agreement with the Port of Ashdod will facilitate the creation of academic programs, economic development, and “smart port” initiatives that will ����̽�� businesses and job creation both in the State of New Jersey and in the State of Israel.”

NJCU and the Port of Ashdod will encourage collaboration between the Port of Ashdod and port-related businesses in the New York-New Jersey metro area. NJCU will also work with the Port of Ashdod and utilize academic resources to develop educational and workforce development opportunities for NJCU students and the broader NJCU community.

"The historic LOI signed is a real seal of approval for the innovative capabilities of Ashdod Port,” said Ashdod Port Board Chairwoman Orna Hozman-Bechor. “We take pride in this step and look forward to more collaborations in the near future. The delegation from New Jersey is the first delegation from the United States to arrive at Ashdod Port, and we hope for many more in the near future. The event is a significant milestone for Ashdod Port and for the entire State of Israel."

Located near Tel Aviv, the Port of Ashdod is considered the leading economic gateway to the State of Israel and is Israel's largest sea port in terms of cargo volume.

“Israel and New Jersey may be separated by an ocean, but this agreement brings us closer than ever by connecting two critical and global ports and taking them into the future together,” said Mark Levenson, Co-Chair, New Jersey-Israel Commission.

“I congratulate the Port of Ashdod and ����̽�� on this historic moment which is another major achievement in New Jersey’s economic partnership with Israel,” said Karin Elkis, Co-Chair, New Jersey-Israel Commission.

“I am so proud to see this agreement moving ahead following close coordination with Choose New Jersey and the Port of Ashdod, which will drive even more Israeli innovation to our state,” said Andrew Gross, Executive Director of the New Jersey-Israel Commission.

NJCU is among New Jersey’s leading public universities and an anchor institution in Jersey City, offering an affordable, high-quality, diverse learning environment for students located just minutes away from one of the most concentrated and affluent consumer markets in the world. NJCU is working to establish partnerships that will not only accelerate the area’s growth, but will ensure those partnerships benefit its students, faculty and community members.

“NJCU is providing a world-class education that is preparing the next generation for the jobs of the future,” said Jose Lozano, President & CEO, Choose New Jersey. “The LOI signing between NJCU and the Port of Ashdod will help create an exciting new partnership that will create workforce development opportunities that will benefit our students and the region.”

The LOI was signed during an economic mission trip to Israel with the New Jersey delegation from November 15-17. Led by Choose New Jersey, the delegation comprised 17 members from the New Jersey-Israel Commission, New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), ����̽�� (NJCU) and Rutgers University. New Jersey is the first state to bring a delegation to Israel since the COVID-19 pandemic.

To learn more about Choose New Jersey’s economic mission trip, you can view their activity on, and with the hashtag #NJIsraelMission.

����̽�� Choose New Jersey:
Choose New Jersey is a privately funded 501 (c)(3) economic development organization with a mission to stimulate job creation and attract capital investment to New Jersey. Choose New Jersey markets New Jersey both domestically and internationally as the best place to grow a business in the United States. Knowledgeable, experienced staff, ����̽��ed by a network of State agencies and private partners, provide free, confidential assistance to guide companies in establishing operations in New Jersey. By harnessing the power of business, labor, academic and government leaders, Choose New Jersey enables growth across all sectors of the State’s economy, aspiring to build a stronger and more prosperous New Jersey for all. To learn more, visit .

����̽�� NJCU:
����̽�� is an institution of higher learning with an audacious goal: the development of our students, our city, our communities, our state, and the world beyond. We are a game-changing force for our students and their families. Whether our students are enrolled in one of our 50 undergraduate, 28 graduate or three doctoral programs, NJCU provides an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally ����̽��ive faculty—all of which prepares them to be critical thinkers in a global landscape.

We’re also changing the game for our city, our communities, and our state. As the educational anchor institution in Jersey City, we’ve established partnerships to ensure the area’s growth directly benefits our students and community members. We seek to improve the lives of everyone in the Garden State, whether creating a home for the arts, bringing educational programs to K-12 students, offering bachelor’s degrees in partnership with community colleges, or providing professional development opportunities for adults.

At NJCU, we’re not just educating minds, we’re nourishing souls and lifting communities. We’re changing the game.

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Contact:
Ira Thor, Senior Director of University Communications and Media Relations | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301