Psyched for success: Sagi Karni, Israel's ambassador to Singapore
Sagi Karni, Israel's ambassador to Singapore, talks about his startup nation, its risk-taking culture, and the agritech partnerships between the two countries.
Add BT as a preferred source
ISRAEL today is nicknamed the "startup nation" for good reason. With a population of about nine million, the country houses the largest number of startups per capita in the world. But its entrepreneurial culture dates back to centuries ago, before the state was established, when the land it sat on was known for establishing farming collectives called "kibbutz".
Profits from farming are reinvested into the collective after providing for members. Over the years, kibbutz farmers made barren lands bloom with field crops, poultry, dairy and fish farms, which, to date remain mainstays of the economy.
Israel's startup story is reminiscent of its agriculture history, one of triumph in the face of challenges, from political upheavals to an arid farming environment. Recent years have seen the themes of innovation and agriculture overlap, with several hundreds of agritech firms springing up across the country.
TRENDING NOW
Two-thirds of Sentosa Cove resales in the red, with average loss topping S$1 million since 2023
Too little, too late? Manila’s billion-dollar bid to ignite its sputtering EV industry
How BYD disrupted Singapore’s car market – and why the strategy is turning on itself
Vietnam seeks US$76 billion a year from capital markets to ease reliance on banks
