48 meetings in 8 days: Here are the biggest takeaways

Governor Phil Murphy's trade mission to Germany and Israel has resulted in a number of agreements – and laid the foundation for many more, officials said.

Here is an overview of 10 things learned during the trip:

1. Murphy's name still means a lot in Germany

At least that was the word of Nicola Michels, who was once with German-American Chamber of Commerce At New York.

Michels has been appointed Director General of the European Office for the Promotion of Choose New Jerseywhich will be based in Berlin.

Michels, who has been working in Germany for three months to kick off the office, believes that his outreach work has already had an impact. And she thinks Murphy's name has a lot to do with it.

"I've talked to so many people and every time I mentioned Phil Murphy's name, first of all, the doors were wide open, and then there was so much good memories, "she said.

Officials from Choose New Jersey have announced that calls from companies interested in moving to this state have doubled since the opening of the office.

2. The businessmen of Germany and Israel love the location of New Jersey and consider it a connector in the middle of the Washington-Boston corridor.

At least that's what Tim Sullivan, director of the Economic Development Agency, said he learned.

"People think, rightly, that New Jersey is at the heart of the beating heart of the US economy," he said. "This is the northeastern corridor from Washington to Boston.

"So that we can stand up for our cause, tell and remind people of all that New Jersey has to offer, not only in our cities, but also in our suburbs. … it was a very useful reminder, because this message, I think, sounded loud enough. "

3. German companies turn more to US governors to take economic leadership

Joachim Lang, CEO and member of the board of directors of the company Federation of German Industries, gave Murphy good news during a roundtable organized at Bayer in Berlin.

While Lang told the crowd that more and more German companies are turning to Asia, President Donald Trump encourages German business leaders to deal directly with state governors, unlike the government because they know that governors have the power to make decisions.

"Our companies are very focused on the governors and their relations with the governors," he said. "We talk to the governors and senators of the states where the German companies are. Together, the United States and Germany account for 50% of world trade and 60% of foreign direct investment. "

4. New Jersey has a good story to tell. You just have to say it

Sullivan said it was obvious to watch others listen to Murphy during the trip.

"One of the things I'm pbadionate about is that the governor has done such a good job repeatedly speaking and advocating for New Jersey," he said.

"People need to hear this message. Those of us who live and work in New Jersey know a lot about it. But if you do not stand up for the cause, tell this story, you do not have the opportunity for people to consider you and think of you.

"Frankly, a lot of the comments we heard were," Wow. We knew a little bit about what we knew, but now we know a lot more and we look forward to following up and having a follow up conversation. & # 39; So, I guess we will have friends, new friends who will visit us We will, in the weeks and months to come, think about specific sites, specific locations, etc.

5. The diversity of New Jersey resonates well abroad

Sullivan said it came back again and again.

"I think it was an important reminder of the economic value of the diversity and the presence of so many strong communities all over the world that have a significant presence in New Jersey … that make Jersey a natural place to partnerships with many immigrant communities, "he said.

6. New Jersey officials were impressed by Palestinian business leaders

Murphy said that he was happy to have taken the meeting.

"We wanted to contact the consulate to meet with representatives of the Palestinian business community in East Jerusalem," he said. "We met (seven companies) with commercial interests (in East Jerusalem, the West Bank or Gaza). I was impressed. There were some very good business stories out there, some of which do a lot of business in America. My instinct tells me that it is possible to do more.

"We have the largest Palestinian community of any US state, and it's probably the least developed, just because of all the geopolitics around it, trade relations. One of the follow-up ideas, and I talked to another Palestinian entrepreneur in the technology sector, is that he should get on a plane, fly over and see our situation with his own eyes . "

Choose Jose Lozano, CEO of New Jersey, okay.

"These were fascinating conversations and, considering all the obstacles and challenges they face, they seem to be doing very well," he said. "And, given the number of engineers and contractors they have, I think that's fine in New Jersey on the East Coast and in some of the other areas we really focus on."

7. The agreement signed by the state with the Israeli authority for innovation could be the most important agreement of the trip

The agreement puts New Jersey on the list of recipients of the authority's investments for companies ready to expand in the US market.

Sullivan explained the impact.

"We are really excited that EDA is establishing a formal relationship with them, as it allows us to make New Jersey eligible beyond their list, if you want to have a partner when they have businesses. that they have either invested in, or simply aware of, this will, a presence in the United States, "he said. "We're sort of on the list of family friends for partnerships.

Sullivan said the deal went both ways.

"If New Jersey corporations think they might want an international presence, it creates a path and a framework to help us build more relationships for its New Jersey companies here in Israel," he said. declared.

8. Someone has finally defined what is the economy of innovation

This is a question that many have asked. Are these STEM fields? Yes, but more – this includes some traditional sectors. In Frankfurt, Joe Kelley, deputy chief of staff in charge of economic growth at Murphy's office, finally provided a list of areas that fall under the governor's priority in the innovation economy.

Drum roll please:

• Life sciences and pharmaceutical startups;
• "High-tech", which includes technology startups and traditional software vendors, as well as cybersecurity;
• Advanced logistics;
• Advanced manufacturing;
• Clean energy;
• Financial services, which may include fintech industries and cross industries, such as insurance technology; and
• Film, television and digital media.

There is also one more. Kind of. The cannabis industry so much debated.

Cannabis, "even though it does not need a lot of" gardening "" represents an opportunity for innovation in the context of its medical use and its connection with the pharmaceutical and science sector of life, said Kelley.

9. New Jersey officials felt the trip had meaning and value

Murphy said that more than anything else, it was the beginning of many different conversations.

"We achieved tangible results, we sowed a lot of seeds and continued some conversations," he said.

Lozano agreed.

"I do not think I have seen a governor move so quickly and in so many places," he said. "We are completing 48 stops over eight days. It's a whirlwind.

"I think that we have very methodically completed the strategic plan presented by the government on October 1 and identified the many sectors in which the state must really offer. We built a trip that complements these. "

10. There will be more trips

"We just have to sleep before," Lozano said.