Manufacturers Association of Israel

The Manufacturers Association of Israel (MAI) is the principal umbrella and representative organization for Israel’s industrial sectors. Established in 1921 during the British Mandate for Palestine by Jewish industrialists led by Arie Shenkar, it was created to help factory owners obtain capital, coordinate their dealings with workers’ organizations, and represent industrial interests before governmental authorities on taxation, levies, import restrictions, and related economic matters. Its early mission was closely connected to the development of a self-sustaining Jewish industrial base and, ultimately, to the economic foundations of the State of Israel. Today, the MAI represents more than 1,800 organizations and states that its members account for over 90 percent of Israel’s industrial output. Its membership spans large exporters, family-owned businesses, public companies, state-linked enterprises, kibbutz industries, and manufacturers serving primarily the domestic market. The association covers a wide range of fields, including metal and electrical equipment, infrastructure, construction materials, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, environmental technologies, food, textiles, fashion, electronics, software, telecommunications, semiconductors, medical devices, and other industrial activities. The organization combines advocacy with professional and advisory services. Its economic work includes macroeconomic and microeconomic research, policy development, and representation of members’ interests. Its labor division deals with employment relations, labor legislation, collective bargaining, human resources, vocational training, productivity, workplace safety, and welfare. The Foreign Trade and International Relations Division represents industrial positions in trade-policy discussions, supports international cooperation, follows free-trade and trade-regulation issues, and participates in negotiations and implementation processes related to international agreements. Communications, finance, administration, and member-support functions provide additional institutional services. The MAI operates through sectoral associations and professional bodies. These include organizations for metal, electrical and infrastructure industries; building materials and consumer goods; high technology; chemicals, pharmaceuticals and environmental industries; food; textile and fashion; and kibbutz industry. It also maintains a regional presence through branches in Haifa, Jerusalem, and the southern region near Be’er Sheva. These branches provide local representation and services to hundreds of member organizations, including a substantial share of Israel’s industrial workforce. The association works with Israeli public institutions such as the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Finance, and the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute. Internationally, it participates in employer and business networks including the International Organisation of Employers, the International Labour Organization, the OECD’s Business and Industry Advisory Committee, the Enterprise Europe Network, and the World Economic Forum. It is also associated with BUSINESSMED and the MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board. The MAI is not a manufacturer or a conventional consumer-facing product brand. Its institutional role is to protect and advance the interests of Israeli industry, influence economic and social policy, encourage industrial competitiveness and innovation, and provide practical support to member companies. In 2008, it received the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement and special contribution to society and the State of Israel. As of 2026, the association is led by president Avraham (Novo) Novogrotzky, who succeeded Ron Tomer after Tomer’s two consecutive three-year terms.

The Manufacturers Association of Israel traces its origins to 1921, when a group of Jewish industrialists in Mandatory Palestine established the Association of Manufacturers and Employers under the leadership of Arie Shenkar. The organization emerged at a time when industrial development faced constraints involving access to finance, labor relations, government regulation, taxation, import controls, and the limited scale of the local market. Its founders sought a collective institution that could help factory owners raise capital, coordinate their dealings with workers’ organizations, and present a unified position to the authorities. The original association dissolved after approximately four years. It was subsequently replaced by the Association of Manufacturers in the Land of Israel, which later adopted the name Manufacturers Association of Israel. Although its immediate work involved practical representation of factory owners, the organization’s broader historical purpose was linked to the creation of a viable Jewish industrial economy. Manufacturing was viewed as an important part of the economic infrastructure required for national development and, later, for the establishment and consolidation of the State of Israel. Over time, the association developed from a relatively focused employers’ body into a broad national institution representing industrial sectors with different ownership structures and business models. Its membership came to include private companies, public enterprises, government-related industries, kibbutz businesses, major exporters, and smaller domestic manufacturers. Sectoral associations were established to address the distinct regulatory, commercial, labor, and technological needs of fields such as metals, electrical equipment, infrastructure, construction materials, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, textiles, electronics, software, telecommunications, and medical devices. The MAI’s institutional responsibilities expanded alongside Israel’s economic integration with global markets. Its foreign-trade and international-relations activities address trade policy, free-trade agreements, international cooperation, and the application of trade rules. The organization represents industrial positions in discussions with government ministries and international bodies, while also helping members understand regulatory and commercial requirements beyond Israel. Its economic division develops macroeconomic and microeconomic positions and provides research and advisory services to members. Labor relations have remained a central part of the association’s work. The MAI represents employers in discussions concerning labor legislation, collective agreements, vocational education, productivity, workplace safety, human resources, and employee welfare. This role places the organization within Israel’s broader system of employer, labor, and government relations, including interactions with the Histadrut and public authorities. The association also built a regional structure. Its headquarters are in Tel Aviv, with branches in Haifa, Jerusalem, and the southern region near Be’er Sheva. These offices connect national policy work with local industrial communities. The Haifa branch serves more than 600 member organizations and is associated with roughly one third of Israel’s industrial manpower; the Jerusalem branch serves more than 130 organizations, while the southern branch serves more than 350. The kibbutz industrial sector became formally connected to the MAI through an agreement in 2010. The Kibbutz Industry Association, originally founded in 1962, represents industrial enterprises located on kibbutzim, moshavim, and regional frameworks. Its formal cooperation with the MAI strengthened the association’s role as a representative body across Israel’s varied industrial ownership models. In the twenty-first century, the MAI has presented itself not only as a lobbying organization but also as a platform for industrial competitiveness, innovation, export development, and economic change. It cooperates with Israeli ministries and export institutions and participates in international employer and business networks, including the International Organisation of Employers, the International Labour Organization, the OECD’s Business and Industry Advisory Committee, the Enterprise Europe Network, and the World Economic Forum. It is also a founding member of BUSINESSMED and participates in the MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board. The association’s public recognition culminated in 2008, when it received the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement and special contribution to society and the State of Israel. Leadership later passed from Ron Tomer, who began his first three-year term on January 30, 2020 and served two consecutive terms, to Avraham (Novo) Novogrotzky in January 2026. Novogrotzky’s background includes senior financial, industrial, and investment roles, as well as chairmanship of the MAI’s Metal, Electrical and Infrastructure Industries Association. The organization remains active as Israel’s principal collective representative for manufacturers and industrial employers.

• 2026

  Avraham (Novo) Novogrotzky becomes president

  [1]Manufacturers Association of Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Avraham (Novo) Novogrotzky succeeds Ron Tomer as president in January 2026.

• 2020

  Ron Tomer begins presidency

  [1]Manufacturers Association of Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Ron Tomer begins the first of two consecutive three-year terms as president of the association.

• 2010

  Formal cooperation with the Kibbutz Industry Association

  [1]Manufacturers Association of Israelen.wikipedia.org

  The Kibbutz Industry Association signs an agreement with the MAI to formally represent, assist, and promote kibbutz industry and its members.

• 2008

  Receives the Israel Prize

  [1]Manufacturers Association of Israelen.wikipedia.org

  The MAI receives the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement and special contribution to society and the State of Israel.

• 1979

  Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Society is established

  [1]Manufacturers Association of Israelen.wikipedia.org

  A sectoral society is created to support and represent Israel’s chemical, pharmaceutical, and environmental industries.

• 1962

  Kibbutz Industry Association is established

  [1]Manufacturers Association of Israelen.wikipedia.org

  The Kibbutz Industry Association is founded to represent industrial enterprises connected with kibbutzim, moshavim, and regional enterprises.

• 1925

  A successor manufacturers’ association is formed

  [1]Manufacturers Association of Israelen.wikipedia.org

  After the original association breaks up, the Association of Manufacturers in the Land of Israel is established and later becomes the Manufacturers Association of Israel.

• 1921

  Association of Manufacturers and Employers is founded

  [1]Manufacturers Association of Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Jewish industrialists led by Arie Shenkar establish an employers’ and manufacturers’ association in Mandatory Palestine to support industrial finance, labor relations, and representation before authorities.

A national business and employers’ association positioned as the collective voice, policy advocate, and professional support platform for Israeli manufacturing and industrial employers.

• Professional association services

  Economic advocacy and research

  The Economics Division develops the MAI’s macroeconomic and microeconomic agenda. It conducts or coordinates research, advises member organizations on economic questions, and represents industrial interests in policy discussions involving the Israeli economy, manufacturing competitiveness, and the operating environment for employers.

• Professional association services

  Labor-relations and employment advisory services

  The Labor Division represents employers on labor relations, employment legislation, collective bargaining, human resources, vocational training, productivity, workplace safety, and welfare. It also participates in negotiations and policy discussions concerning labor laws and agreements affecting industrial employers.

• Trade and regulatory services

  Foreign trade and international-relations services

  The Foreign Trade and International Relations Division supports members on international economic policy, trade regulation, free-trade principles, international cooperation, and foreign-market issues. It represents Israeli industrial positions in intergovernmental and international organizations and contributes to discussions surrounding trade agreements.

• Industry representation

  Sectoral industrial associations

  The MAI’s sectoral bodies provide specialized representation for industries including metal, electrical and infrastructure manufacturing; construction materials and consumer goods; high technology; chemicals, pharmaceuticals and environmental products; food; textile and fashion; and kibbutz industry. They address sector-specific regulation, standards, exports, workforce matters, and member support.

• 2010

  Formal integration of kibbutz-industry representationStrategy

  Background

  The Kibbutz Industry Association represented a substantial network of industrial enterprises operating within kibbutzim, moshavim, and regional frameworks.

  Action taken

  The Kibbutz Industry Association entered into an agreement with the MAI to formally represent, assist, and promote kibbutz industry and its members.

  Aftermath

  The agreement broadened the MAI’s representation across Israel’s cooperative and regional industrial sectors.

  Source

1. 1Manufacturers Association of Israelen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Manufacturers Association of Israel official websiteindustry.org.il