From Connections Magazine

Economic Development

Partnership 2000 (P2K) recognized the tremendous potential of the area for commercial development and increased tourism. In the ten years of its existence, P2K has been active in entrepreneurship, empowerment and development of the region and has invested in people and in businesses.

The rapidly growing "Wine Route" is one of the success stories of the initiative to promote economic development.

The Wine Route

In one of their first visits to the Beit Shemesh area, the representatives from Cape Town (South Africa) Federation pointed to the topographic and climatic resemblance to the vineyards in Stellenbosch, South Africa, part of South Africa’s famous Wine Route. While it seemed then a simple step to develop a similar program here, the idea was slow to take hold. At first, only three vineyards participated. However, with the push of the local authorities, a master plan was created to sponsor or invest in additional vineyards which would produce high quality wines from different botanical strains.

Today, our Wine Route numbers some 30 vineyards. In addition, events combining nature, music, food and wine, attract thousands of visitors from all over country and the world.

P2K continues aiding in the development of the industry. Throughout the past decade the Partnership has run professional tours to South Africa for local winemakers. This year, P2K ran another commercial tour, this time to the US to learn about the wine industry there and to explore exporting opportunities to our partner community, Washington DC, and to the US in general. Visits to a number of vineyards added to the experience and acquainted the participants with other wines and wine-making techniques.

Other projects are also being developed, in addition to the Wine Route. In a conference held earlier this year, titled "Looking for the Next Idea", the P2K Economic Development Sub-committee invited local residents to raise ideas for new tourist projects in the area. Meeting the challenge, some 100 people took part in the creative forum from which four main projects emerged, which the Partnership plans to help sponsor:

    * Development of bicycle tourism

    * Upgrading the Jewish Rock and Soul Music festival

    * Development of the cultivation of aromatic oils

    * A forum of local business people

Active residents play an active role in the Committee for Economic Development and in forums relating to each of the fields. We wish these budding projects much success.