Written by: Merav Saluk - Western Galilee College

Partnership 2000 of the Jewish Agency, Western Galilee College, Matte Asher Regional Council, Akko Municipality and the Jewish Agency have recently launched an ambitious enterprise in collaboration with Reut Institute the final objective of which is: to position Israel as one of the 15 leading countries in the world in terms of quality of life, through "identifying a narrative, that is, central growth stimulators in the Western Galilee, and encouraging entrepreneurs to develop such stimulators".

The model was previously applied in Matte Yehuda and Beit Shemesh. The research stage is ending these days in the Western Galilee and the application stage will soon begin: encouraging entrepreneurs by connecting them to local resources.

Leading entrepreneurs in the region are taking part in the project, such as: Chair of Partnership 2000, Mrs. Raya Strauss Ben Dror, President of Western Galilee College, Prof. Gideon Fishman, Minister of Agriculture, Shalom Simkhon, Chairman of Matte Asher Regional Council, Yehuda Shavit, Mayor of Akko, Shimon Lankri, Director of Partnership 2000 Western Galilee, Li-At Cohen, Representative of Consortium Communities, Beth Zuriel and CEO of Teva Naot, Michael Iluz. "Experience worldwide shows that countries that managed to make a leapfrog in terms of quality of life focused on regional development", Dr. Yehuda Ben Simon, Dean of Western Galilee College, explains.

"The unique model developed by Praxis comprises Stage A, identifying central development stimulators in the Western Galilee with the help of dozens of local entrepreneurs in every possible field, and Stage B, which is currently being implemented and focuses on connecting between resources and entrepreneurship; this means inviting all the entrepreneurs in the region to a round table where they can present their suggestions in regard to the following three fields: the healthy living cluster, creative tourism, and development of future scientists and engineers." Dr. Ben Simon has also mentioned that the Western Galilee College considers itself to be a strategic partner in the development of the Galilee and for this reason has joined this unique initiative.