Portland-based business consultant Perry Newman of Atlantica Group LLC discusses the prospect he sees for creating Maine - Israel business connections.

When Mainers, or Israelis, think about trading partners or joint ventures they usually don't think about each other. Perry Newman of Atlantica Group says that's too bad. He tried this fall to organize a trade mission of business people in several states to Israel, but got no takers.

Still, Newman is in Israel this week, visiting some clients on his own and continuing to encourage them to consider doing business with Maine. Before his trip, Newman talked with MPBN's Irwin Gratz about the potential he sees in U.S. - Israeli business ties.