In a world increasingly referred to as a global village, Candice Miller is trying to raise Michigan's international profile in an effort to build stronger commercial ties.
The Michigan secretary of state is scheduled to travel to Israel from Dec. 7-16, as part of an entourage of government officials from several U.S. states. While there, Miller will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, members of parliament, Israel's chief rabbi and several members of the country's business community.
"It's my great honor to have been asked to participate," Miller said, adding that she is looking forward to "really understanding the country and the customs" and meeting with Israel's leaders.
As foreign trade becomes increasingly integral to industrial nations, many U.S. states work on an individual basis with other nations to foster commercial cooperation. Miller said the opportunity to work on bettering trade ties was an incentive for her to make the trip.
"The world is becoming smaller all the time," Miller said. Michigan has worked to be proactive in building relationships with industrial nations, she continued, although a trip of this sort is unusual.
Talking to Netanyahu will be one of the trip's highlights, she said, adding that she will be the first Michigan official to personally meet with the recently elected prime minister.
"I'm curious to meet him," Miller said. "He certainly is an incredible international figure, and obviously extremely conservative. From those perspectives, it will be an interesting conversation, certainly."
Miller also said she is looking forward to touring Israel and getting a sense of its history. Visiting during the holiday season and touring the country's holy grounds will be an added benefit to the trip, she said.
"It certainly couldn't be happening at a better time of the year," Miller said.
The trip is sponsored by Project Interchange, an organization funded by foundations and individual donors. In the last 10 years, more than 1,500 state officials, members of Congress and other leaders have participated in Project Interchange seminars.