In 1988, under Governor Thomas H. Kean, a Sister State Agreement was signed between the State of Israel and the State of New Jersey.  Governor Kean in 1989 established The New Jersey-Israel Commission to implement the goals of this agreement - to promote the development of trade, culture and educational exchanges; encourage the development of capital investment and joint business ventures; and foster a spirit of cooperation between the citizens of the State of Israel and the State of New Jersey.

During Governor Corzine’s most recent reauthorization of the Commission, the Governor stated, “Israel is one of the Garden State's most important international partners, by signing the legislation officially designating New Jersey-Israel Commission within the Department of State, we will enhance an historic collaborative partnership that has flourished for twenty years in areas ranging from technology growth and investment to cultural and educational enrichment.  As a permanent working group, I am certain the New Jersey-Israel Commission will continue to foster and advance our landmark relationship with the State of Israel."

The economic partnerships between Israel and the United States are greatly disproportionate relative to the size of Israel's population.  Since the Commission’s inception, the State of New Jersey has made many advances in its stated area of connections with our “Sister State.”  Based on Commission statistics these include:

• New Jersey exports nearly $12 billion since 1991
  • More than $106 million in optic, medical and surgical instruments
  • More than $235 million in aircraft, spacecraft and parts
  • Approximately $180 million in industrial machinery and computers
  • More than $68 million in electrical equipment, appliances and components

• More than 700 New Jersey companies have been doing business with Israel
• 72 Israel companies maintain operations in New Jersey
• 18 New Jersey companies maintain operations in Israel
• Cultural events in the arts and humanities presented by NJPAC, the State Theater, McCarter Theater, the Newark Museum, and others.
• More than $6.5 million in joint venture funding link New Jersey firms like Schering Plough, Telcordia and Johnson and Johnson with Israeli partners
• Academic collaboration between researchers in Israel and Princeton University, Rutgers University, NJIT, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Fairleigh Dickinson University
• Hadassah Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson Hospital share experiences in areas of public health, trauma surgery, terrorism and domestic security.