Israel eyeing global market for exporting ‘domestic security technology’

TEL AVIV - Israel has moved aggressively to turn domestic security technology into one of its biggest exports, as terrorism threats continue to spread across the globe.

“We might be a small country, but we’re not small in this business,” the Los Angeles Times quoted Avi Hefetz, director of the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, as saying.

The institute, a quasi-government business promotion group, this month organized the Homeland Security Conference, Israel’s first expo for domestic security providers.

“I thought to myself, if we have the state-of-the-art technology, the defense know-how and our considerable experience gained throughout the intifadas, why not organize a platform for displaying our technologies in this field?” the Israeli export official said.

More than 400 Israeli companies export about 1.5 billion dollars annually in domestic security goods and technology, including biometric devices, tear gas canisters, anti-intrusion systems, airport screening machines, explosives detectors and remote-controlled vehicles.

Although Israel’s share of the 175-billion-dollar global domestic security market is less than one per cent, government and industry officials are of the view they can increase that tenfold by ramping up marketing and promotion.

This year Israel sent a record nine trade delegations to India. Israeli-made 360-degree cameras have been installed on Indian oil rigs, and Mumbai government officials sent police officers to Israel for training after the 2008 terrorist attacks, Hefetz said.

Nice Systems, an Israeli company that sells data-analysis and surveillance systems, counts among its customers the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, Bank of America and the New York City Police Department.

“Israel’s domestic market is tiny,” said Alon Slonim, vice president for international marketing at Ispra, which manufactures tear gas and other riot gear, adding, “The only way to grow is to export.” (ANI)