Boris Johnson praises Israel's hi-tech success as "an absolute education"

Mayor of London Boris Johnson opens trading at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange at the start of a four day trade visit to Israel. Photo credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

by Justin Cohen, reporting from Israel

Boris Johnson has hailed Israel’s hi-tech achievements as “an absolute education” as he opened the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange this morning.

Pressing the button to start the day’s trading was the first engagement on the Mayor of London’s three-day trade mission to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the West Bank.

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Introduced by the chief executive of the Exchange, the MP spoke of the fact that more Israeli companies have listed in London than any other country in recent months.

He said opening the markets around the world usually meant an immediate sea of red – joking that Israel already had a Red Sea – but that this time it was green. “Everyone wants to buy shares today and quite right too.”

The Mayor is accompanied by a delegation of representatives from 15 London tech firms, as he sets his sights on boosting the already strong trade links between the two countries.

He then went on to talks at the town hall with Tel Aviv counterpart Ron Huldai.

Asked by media before the meeting if he had any advice for mayors seeking higher office, Ron Huldai said he was all for it. It’s the Most important experience before prime minister.” Standing alongside Johnson, he jokes: “He told me to say that.”

The pair will next cycle together on Rothschild Boulevard.