CAESAREA, Israel — Countertop manufacturer Caesarstone decided its next manufacturing plant needed to be outside the woody hills of northern Israel and closer to overseas customers. It picked a far-flung site for its new gem: the coastal plain of southeast Georgia.
Caesarstone is banking on the plant’s proximity to Savannah’s port to get its countertops more quickly to the marketplace. And state officials hold out hope that their partnership with the Israeli firm as a sign that a new international strategy is working.
Israel has never been a major trading partner with Georgia, and until recently, its companies haven’t had substantial footprints in the state. As Gov. Nathan Deal’s trade delegation travels this week through the Holy Land, he hopes to persuade more Israeli firms to use Georgia as a springboard to vault their products to market.
Check out myajc.com for a behind-the-scenes look at Georgia's push to lure Israeli firms to invest in the state, and a look at the challenges they face.
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