Fairfax County Conference Spotlights U.S. Homeland Security Needs and Israeli Technology.

Jan. 16-18 Event Highlights Technology Needs of Government and Prime Contractors, Investment Goals of Venture Capitalists, Lessons for Entering the U.S. Market

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. -- Advanced security technology will be the focus of the United States - Israel HLS Technologies Conference

Seventeen Israeli companies will participate in the event that will give them a chance to meet U.S. contractors and systems integrators to assess the federal market place, present business plans to leading investors, and highlight Fairfax County's strong homeland defense industry. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) and the Israeli Export and International Cooperation Institute organized the event at the Center for Innovative Technology in Herndon, Virginia.

U.S. companies interested in partnering with Israeli firms are invited to attend the event. The agenda is available at www.fairfaxcountyeda.org/israel_event_0107.htm. Highlights include:

* "The Technologies We Need to Prevent Weapons of Mass Destruction and Other Terror Attacks on the U.S. and Our Allies," an address by James S. Gilmore III, former governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, chairman of the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (the Gilmore Commission), and partner, Kelley Drye Collier Shannon.

* "Security Technologies Needed by the U.S. Government, Prime Contractors, and the Commercial Sector," a panel discussion with government contractors.

* "What You Need to Know Before Entering the U.S. Security Market - Tips and Lessons Learned," a panel discussion with experts in security regulations, export controls, financial structure, marketing and mergers and acquisitions.

* "The Investment Climate in Israel," an address by Yair Shiran, Economic Minister to North America, Government of Israel Economic Mission.

* "What Venture Capitalists and Strategic Investors are Looking for in Security Technologies," a panel discussion with venture capitalists and investment bankers.

Organizations supporting the event are the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C., the Northern Virginia Technology Council, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. Convergent Security Group, a division of New York investment bank Legend Merchant Group Inc., is a special event sponsor.

The FCEDA has a permanent representative in Tel Aviv, Ronen Kenan, who works with Israeli companies interested in expanding in the U.S. market. The FCEDA works closely with the Virginia-Israel Advisory Board, part of the office of governor of Virginia, which has an office co-located with the FCEDA headquarters.

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org) promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA maintains offices in Silicon Valley, Bangalore, Frankfurt, London and Seoul as well as Tel Aviv.