New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. visited the State of Israel last weekend to deliver the keynote address at the Tel Aviv Annual Institutional Investment Conference.

“Israel is widely recognized as a country of innovation and how its cutting-edge development of new industries and technologies makes it ripe for huge growth opportunities,” Thompson said. “In order to capitalize on these opportunities, we as investors must come together and have these conversations. This is a perfect forum for us to exchange ideas and perspectives — not only as we work towards a prosperous future — but also as we look back and try to completely understand all the events that have unfolded in recent times.”

The Tel Aviv Annual Institutional Investment Conference was held on Sunday, May 10th. This conference provided a venue for the investment decision-makers to discuss trends in the financial industry both in Israel and abroad.

Thompson serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of four of the five New York City Pension Funds and is investment advisor to, and custodian of, all of the Funds. The Funds are the: New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS), Teachers’ Retirement System for the City of New York (TRS), New York City Police Pension Fund, New York City Fire Department Fund, and Board of Education Retirement System.

Last September, Thompson and NYCERS announced the purchase of $15 million of State of Israel fixed rate bonds. This market the third direct purchase of bonds from the State of Israel by a New York City pension fund system. In 2003, the Teachers’ Retirement System purchased $5 million in State of Israel bonds. TRS made a second $5 million purchase in 2004.

“The purchase of these bonds helped to strengthen and diversify the NYCERS portfolio, assist the State of Israel, and demonstrate our continued confidence in Israel’s economy,” Thompson said.  “I am proud that the Pension Funds have been able to serve the best financial interests of their members while furthering a tradition of support for a great ally. Friends and supporters of Israel in the United States helped create the economic foundation that has allowed Israel to grow into a strong and vibrant nation.”