The Special Committee for Strengthening and Developing the Negev and Galilee, chaired by MK Oded Forer (Yisrael Beitenu), convened on Monday for a debate following reports that Nvidia is interested in opening a development center in Israel. Committee Chair MK Forer said that the state would have to provide the company with incentives to open its center in the eastern Galilee. “The State of Israel has to intervene where there is a market failure, and this exists north of Haifa. Nvidia’s arrival is a non-recurring opportunity.” MK Forer said further that the state should prepare for the event with a special package of benefits for the company.
Ministry of Finance official Asael Tzur said, “In the end we’re talking about a private company that will make its decisions according to its judgment. I am not relieving us in the Government of responsibility; [the Government] has to lay the groundwork in the best way possible. We were surprised by this move, and our ability to prepare for it is limited.” Tzur said further that there were two teams working on preparing a plan and quantifying the [projected] utilities.
Michal Fink of the Ministry of Economy and Industry said that the case of Nvidia was important to the State of Israel and to northern Israel in general. She said, “In the event that they go to Development Zone A, we will support. Personally, I cannot talk about a dedicated package. I will bring the committee’s request before the minister and the director general. We have made contact with the company, and they, of course, have their own considerations.”
Committee Chair MK Forer replied, “There is a region-transforming event here, and that is how the State of Israel should treat it. If the Government of Israel treats this with the regular parameters, the impact will not be massive. In my view, an interministerial meeting should have already been held last week so that the Government would have a package of benefits on the table beyond all the benefits that currently exist in legislation.”
Hila Blutrich of the Israel Land Authority said that the Northern District attaches vast importance to bringing Nvidia to the north. “We held several good meetings with Nvidia, and made it clear to them what we can offer.” She reviewed the possible industrial zones for building the development center in northern Israel, including the industrial zone in Beit She’an. “Rehabilitation of the north requires mobilization of all offices, and certainly ours, for the purpose of bringing Nvidia to the north. Our incentives will be through exemption from a tender, and the cost of the land will be in keeping with the priority area and the confrontation line, and the allocation will be made without anything in return,” said Blutrich.
Benny Ben Muvhar, head of the Mevo’ot HaHermon Regional Council: “The eastern Galilee and the Golan have come to a standstill. If we want to preserve this region, we have to invest not only in the security field, but also in the economic field.” Michael Kabesa, head of the Hatzor Haglilit Local Council and co-chair of the Tzahar Industrial Park, said, “Among other things, a residential package is being drawn up that we want to give with the [Israel Land] Authority, and to create an attractive village for the minds that will arrive. There is a historic opportunity here to change the eastern Galilee. I hope we can bring tidings to the region.” Uri Kellner, head of the Golan Regional Council, called upon the Government to advance Israel’s northern region.
