COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH OF ISRAEL (CEGI)
Elmer Winter was the founder and served as Chairman of the Committee for
Economic Growth of Israel (CEGI), an organization dedicated to expanding trade relationships between the United States and
Israel. While CEGI officially closed its doors at the end of 2007, Winter continued to "spread the good word" through
his "You Ought to Know Gazette".
CEGI was a nonprofit organization created in 1976 at the request of then-elected
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. CEGI’s International Board of Advisors consisted of 62 leading business executives
in America and 27 in Israel. It had executive offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Winter received an important award
plaque at the home of the President of Israel Chaim Herzog on May 20, 1987.
The plaque states: "This plaque is
given in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the promotion of Israel's exports and his role in bringing Israeli
goods to the attention of an ever wider public in the United States." The plaque was signed by Ariel Sharon,
Minister of Industry and Trade.
Winter received an award from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Jubilee Business
Summit in Israel on October 15, 1998.
The award states: “The Jubilee Pioneer Citation recognizes a select group
of visionaries who invested in Israel and its enterprises in the early years of the State. These early investors fulfilled,
with their bold initiatives, the prophecy of Theodor Herzl: ‘If you will it, it is no dream.’
As Israel celebrates its Jubilee Year, marking five decades of independence, the nation expresses its gratitude to those dreamers
and builders who have set the personal examples and prepared the ground for a thriving nation with a flourishing economy.
Mr. Winter belongs to a small and distinguished group of pioneers that contributed greatly to the promotion of the young state’s
international trade and was active in bringing leading American businesspeople to Israel. For his pioneering efforts
and his inspiration to others, Mr. Winter has earned the gratitude of the state of Israel.” The plaque
was signed by Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister.
In his capacity as Chairman of CEGI, Winter published a newsletter which
was mailed to 2,350 influentials in the USA and abroad to provide an update on the windows of opportunity that Israel offers.
In addition, Winter provided a periodic marketing newsletter to 825 Israeli Managing Directors. Winter had a program
of writing to over 950 CEOs of American high-tech companies alerting them as to the opportunities that exist for them to utilize
the high skills of Israeli engineers and scientists in the development of their products.
Winter advised American companies as to how they can
expand the sales of their products to Israelis and to the 200 million Arabs living in the Middle East.
Winter provided suggestions
and plans to the President and Secretary of State of the United States as to how to develop programs which would provide jobs
for Palestinians in Israel so that they could put bread on the table for their families.
Winter advised Israeli Government officials as to ways
in which they could increase investments and expand R&D facilities in Israel.
Winter did all of this work on a pro bono basis and was not in the employ
of either the Government of the United States or the Government of Israel. CEGI was non-political.
