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Two years since the Abraham Accords: the first Israeli delegation on cultural heritage and entrepreneurship visited the Emirates

September 20, 2022

After the establishment of diplomatic relations, trade, tourism and more – it is now the turn of the heritage. Exactly two years after the signing of the Abraham Accords, the first Israeli delegation on cultural heritage and entrepreneurship arrived in the Emirates last week – for a professional seminar on entrepreneurship, innovation and knowledge exchange.

This is a delegation of colleagues from the Kedem Program (Progress Through Heritage), led by the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage and in partnership with the Antiquities Authority, the Nature and Parks Authority and the Council for the Preservation of Heritage Sites in Israel, and managed by Ben Gurion University in collaboration with the Innovation Institute of the Bronfman Center at NYU University. 

Kedem is the national program for leadership and heritage entrepreneurship, one of the highlights of which each year is an international professional seminar. As part of the historic visit to the emirates, members of the delegation met with senior representatives involved in the development of heritage in the Abraham Accords area, and who work in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership. They also toured local heritage sites, learned about the challenges facing decision makers in developing processes to lead the preservation of cultural heritage and make it accessible to the public with the help of entrepreneurship and innovation, and promoted cooperation and knowledge exchange in the field between the countries. 

Nathaniel Isaac, CEO of the Jerusalem and Heritage Ministry: “The Kedem program, under the leadership of the ministry and the various heritage bodies, continues to produce precedent-setting moves in favor of strengthening the field of heritage in the international arena as well. We believe that the national heritage is a resource that should also be used for economic development, technological cooperation and innovation.’

Dr. Nir Tzuk, Head of the Innovation Institute of the Bronfman Center at NYU University: “The Emirates is a fascinating space, which combines the desert and the future. This is a place that is now building the history of the future.’

Ms. Shira Shapira, chairman of Kedem’s steering committee and deputy head of the Senior Heritage Division of the Jerusalem and Heritage Office: “The seminar is a unique opportunity for multi-sector and international collaborations. The Kedem program seeks to raise the leaders of the future, who will lead change with the tools of innovation and entrepreneurship to deepen the connection between heritage and the Israeli public.’

Prof. Mossi Rosenbaum, Deputy Dean of the Gilford Glaser Faculty of Management at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev: “This type of training leads to familiarization with entrepreneurship tools, innovation and impact, learning and leading change processes, expanding the professional network of the colleagues, exposure to challenges and solutions in the field of heritage and learning the operations of mechanisms in the international arena – all of these constitute fertile ground for learning processes and the realization of the program’s vision.”

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