Corzine sees business benefits from trip to Israel

TRENTON - Gov. Corzine said yesterday that his trip to Israel this week has yielded "a number of leads" for business opportunities, though no agreements. "This is business-building," Corzine said in a teleconference with reporters.

The governor participated yesterday in a discussion with representatives from corporations specializing in environmentally clean technology. Those meetings followed talks at a high-tech center with Israeli companies, and meetings with U.S. companies operating in Israel and Israeli companies with business interests in New Jersey.

Corzine said he was especially interested in Israel's efforts to develop alternative energies, including an electric car, which Corzine plans to test-drive today, the last day of his official five-day visit.

Earlier in the week, he met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres, and discussed stem cell research at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.

- AP