On video: The government approved the state budget for 2024 15.01.2024/Video (upload): Omer Miron / L.A.M., Sound: Ben Peretz / L.A.M.
Israela Stier-Einstein.
The next president of the Union of Chambers of Commerce?
"Today more than ever, as a result of the Iron Swords War, we face great challenges. This is a fateful time for the people of Israel and the economy. We are in a major budget problem, we will have to fight against the government that wants to raise taxes and increase the costs for employers.
" Together with the various divisions of the Union of Chambers of Commerce Ilham As much as possible for the sake of the members," says Israela Shtir-Einstein, owner and president of the Shtir group for conferences and exhibitions and vice president of the Israel Chambers of Commerce, who recently announced her candidacy for the position of president of the Association of Chambers of Commerce, after Uriel Lin announced his retirement after 22 years in office.
The elections are scheduled to be held in - April 9, the president will be elected by business owners, CEOs and chairmen of companies, members of the union.
As of this writing, the other contenders for the position are Amir Shani (CEO and owner of Amit Customs Brokers Company, who serves as vice president of the Association of Chambers of Commerce) and Shahar Turgeman (Chairman of the Beryl Group, who serves as the Chairman of the Association of Trade Chains at the Chamber of Commerce)
Shtir-Einstein, who has served for about 10 years as the vice president of the chambers of commerce, defines herself as "ageless", with the vigor of a 30-year-old, with friends in their 50-60s and with such fitness that very few young people can compete with her in energy
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An event of the Shtir group.
The events industry was hit hard as a result of the war/Daniela Missen
It's time for a woman
"When I do something, I do it with all my heart, all my vigor and all my energy," she says.
"I saw that I could contribute a lot in the Chamber. I know the activities of the Chamber, I like contests and I want to promote. I think I am capable, and I also think it is time for a woman to head such an organization.
The Chamber during the days of Uriel Lin, for whom I have a lot of respect, was much more active fields. Among other things, it worked very intensively to reduce corporate tax, we were able to reduce it to the level of 25%. Also, until the last few years during previous wars in the State of Israel - and we occasionally have such - compensation for businesses was only for industry. For some reason the government decided that the factories Industry receives compensation and the other branches of the economy, such as service providers and importers, do not. We managed to make it so that other business owners also receive compensation."
On the agenda, she says, there are other issues that need to be addressed.
"For example, I would like to take care of the property tax, which is high and a heavy burden on businesses. We should also take care of lowering the tax on dividend withdrawals (the state will only benefit from this), we should cancel all kinds of unnecessary regulations that still exist. I also think that there is a problem of class action lawsuits in Israel, someone should Stop it."
What is meant by?
"Anyone can decide to file a class action lawsuit, and now go fight it. There are lawyers that is all they do in life, work for success. Today these class actions are really a curse of the business sector. If I choose, I will make every effort to improve and do the best It's good that I can for the members of the chamber. The union currently represents about 2,000 businesses (service providers, importers, exporters) that employ about 600,000 workers.
My vision going forward is to increase the status of the members, improve the relationship with them and deepen the relationship with government ministries. I bring experience of For many years as the owner of a company that is a leader in the field of exhibitions and conferences, with global activity in this industry."
Steer-Einstein is optimistic about her chances.
"I believe I have a chance to be elected," she says.
"I know a lot of members of the chamber, I hope they will put their trust in me so that I will do the best for them. I don't want to lose, I hope I will succeed, but even if it doesn't happen - I owe this dream to myself and I hope I will win it. I also hope that the war will end, May the abductees return safely, and may we have a government that knows how to appreciate the people who live here, work here and fight, and not just those who don't contribute."
A failed government
She serves as the chairman of a working committee in the Union of Chambers of Commerce and a member of the information committee, represents the union on various issues in committees in the Knesset and government ministries, serves as a mentor to graduate students and helps with professional guidance. The IDF Wounded Organization, the Association of Friends of the University of Haifa and the Chamber Theaters, Beit Lesin and the Israeli Opera.
When asked about the essential challenges facing businesses in these days of war, she divides it into two.
"Those who continue to work at the same levels without a decrease in turnover, then the situation does not bother them. Within the bureau there are also businesses that were not affected by the war, and perhaps there are those that even manage to sell better during the war," she says.
"But for those whose turnovers decreased during the war, our biggest problem is to make sure that the government (sorry, this failure), will give compensation as it promised in the law, compensation some of which have not yet arrived. The business owners need this money so that they can continue to own the business, pay rent and salaries for the employees. To receive the compensation they were promised - this is the thing that is now most disturbing to the businesses whose turnovers have decreased."
Her business, the Shtir Group, which, as mentioned, engages in the initiation and organization of professional exhibitions and conferences, is also among the businesses affected by the war.
"My business is greatly affected by the situation," she says.
"Since October we have not been able to do anything. Many people from abroad would also come to our exhibitions, but our lack of activity in this case is not related to abroad.
"In October-November-December we were supposed to have prepared exhibitions that we were already working on.
An exhibition is something you work on a year in advance.
Salespeople sell the exhibition, collect customers, plan their booths, make prospectuses, work on advertising, invite visitors.
All the work has already been done to make these events happen.
Then the war actually broke out and it was impossible to hold anything, not because we didn't want to, but because at first there were restrictions on gatherings.
"You cannot hold an exhibition or conference under such guidelines that there will not be more than 500 or 1,000 people. An exhibition is something big, there are events of 5,000, 8,000, and even 12,000 people. Even today it is impossible to hold such exhibitions. People in the reserves, companies in the reserves , there is no mood. A disaster has happened to the country. A large part of our conferences and exhibitions have been postponed to June, to September. Some have been postponed for a year, and we have a conference that is supposed to take place in March."
With her son, Gil Shtir.
It is not easy to integrate the next generation in a business that you established from scratch/PR
Peripheral damage
In terms of the events industry, Shtir-Einstein emphasizes, not only the field of exhibitions and conferences is affected.
"Events are a huge field," she says.
"I'm in a WhatsApp group, there are photographers, caterers of events, stages, flight attendants - endless bodies that don't work and have no income. It's terrible. The current situation is frustrating. If only we could see some kind of horizon. On October 7th, in my eyes, a second disaster happened, A terrible disaster. In general, for the last year from a prosperous and rich high-tech country with a strong currency, we have deteriorated to the state of almost a bankrupt country. It's terribly frustrating."
What are you doing business-wise these days?
"Because, as mentioned, we work about a year in advance on events, so we are now working on events that should take place in the last quarter of 2024. Beyond that, we engage in initiative and development, develop additional projects, invest in new projects abroad.
My business is entrepreneurship.
We initiate new ideas and try to develop them outside Israel.
For example, they are working on an exhibition and conference in the field of elevators in Europe, which will be attended by people from all over the world.
They are trying to start a project in New York, an exhibition and conference in the field of blue-white industries.
We are also working on an exhibition and a conference in Europe in the field of security, now we are building it, we are looking for a location."
Today, February 9th, we celebrate Family Day. The Shtir Group from CEO Gil Shtir, Israela's son.
"Since Gil became CEO of the company, I only deal with finances and investments.
Of course, where he needs my help, I give, but it is according to his requirement.
We think together, we collaborate, even now we work together on the various developments and initiatives."
How is the dynamic between you?
"I really enjoy working with Gil.
One of the things that gives a parent the most satisfaction is to see that they have a very talented, very successful child who continues the family business.
Our business has been around for 50 years, founded in 1973 by me and my ex-husband, the late Dobi Shtir, who passed away two years ago. We worked together even after we separated as a couple, because we remained on good terms. Today there are many old customers who say to me: 'Wow , what a man Gil'. He is a special person, a gentleman, speaks quietly, calmly, gives a sense of security. He is honest and decent, so I have fun, I enjoy myself, I have pleasure. We get along great."
you or me
The beginning, she admits, was not easy.
"In the first year or two when Gil started to be CEO, I was still used to saying and determining, and suddenly there is someone else.
Many times I interrupted him, because I wanted it to be my way.
I will never forget that one day Gil said to me: 'Either you give me the keys properly, or you do it yourself.'
So I realized that I was moving aside and giving him the stage.
Since then I have been dealing with what I am also good at and love: investments and finances."
Since the outbreak of the war, due to Turkey's hostile attitudes towards Israel and the tensions between the two countries, there have been many calls to confiscate Turkish products.
"Last December I was on a delegation from the Chamber of Commerce in Turkey, we were guests of a union The Turkish exporters," says Shtir-Einstein. "They hosted us very nicely to promote business, they did a huge job promoting business there.
But if you ask me, a declaration to boycott Turkey should be said.
Calling for boycotts is correct, just as what we import from South Africa should be boycotted now.
They need to understand that they cannot do what they want with us.
On the other hand, in the end business is stronger than wars.
In commercial relations, if both sides benefit from it, then it is in the interest of both sides to continue to maintain it."
More on the same topic:
Union of Chambers of Commerce
conference
Event management