An Interview with Ephraim Shoham - Israel’s Trade Commissioner in Canada, 2003 - 2007
Ephraim Shoham was nominated as Israel’s Trade Commissioner in Canada in September 2003 and ended his tenure in August 2007. Mr. Shoham’s professional experience began in 1965 when he joined the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces). He then joined Israel’s Ministry of Defense, in charge of Research and Development programs, coordinating multi-disciplinary projects with Israeli and foreign entities. He retired from the IDF with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Over a period of 17 years he worked at Israel’s Industrial Cooperation Authority (ICA), entrusted with monitoring, initiating and supporting industrial cooperation activities between Israeli industry and foreign suppliers. From 1990 - 1994 he served as Consul and U.S. Director of the ICA in New York, responsible for industrial cooperation between Israel, USA and Canada. Then from 1996 - 2003, he held the position of Director General of the ICA. Mr. Shoham holds an MBA from the University of New Haven. He attended the Open University, the Israeli Labor Productivity Institute, and the Israeli Defense Force’s Academy of Command and Management. He also attended Bar Ilan University where he received his BA in Public Administration and Political Science. Mr. Shoham is married to Ariela and they have three children.
Israel ’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, Foreign Trade Admin.
Yaron Bazaz: Hi Ephraim. Two month ago you ended your four years nomination as the Israel’s Trade Commissioner in Canada (2003 -2007). How you sum up your tenure?
Ephraim Shoham: “For me to come to Canada was a great challenge, considering the insufficient level of trade between to two countries. Israel and Canada tend to focus their trade efforts toward other markets. Israel export mainly to Europe and the US and the Canadian industry sell almost solely to the US and not to other countries, including Israel So in those four years I can say the level of trade increase dramatically. Now the level of trade is more than 1.2 billion USD a year which is more then double the level 4 years ago (and not including a one billion US $ a year in Israeli investment in Canadian real estate y.b).”
