Draft:Uri Shraga Gutman

Ambassador Uri Shraga Gutman (אורי שרגא גוטמן) (born April 8, 1959) was a career diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel) between 1989 and 2019, specializing in economic diplomacy. In this capacity he brought to the signing of the first bi-lateral innovation and trade agreements in Turkey, China and South Korea. Gutman currently teaches Economic and Innovation Diplomacy at Tel Aviv University.. and at Reichman University’s Faculty of Law and Government, where he is also a Fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT). As a member of the board of Israeli VC Silver Stone Global Partners, he consults private sector companies that wish to enter East Asia markets.

Career
As a diplomat, Gutman served as Ambassador to South Korea (2013-2016) , Consul General in Shanghai (2005-2008) , Head of the Israeli Economic and Culture Office in Taipei (1998-2000) , Deputy Head of Mission in Stockholm (1993-1995) and Israel's Consulate General in Istanbul (1991-1993).

During his time in the Foreign Ministry, Gutman initiated and completed several agreements, including the first economic agreement between Israel and Turkey (1993) The first R&D Innovation agreement with Jiangsu Province, China (2008) and The Free Trade Agreement with South Korea (2021)

In 2014, Gutman led Israel's delegation to the UN ITU conference in Korea during his term as Ambassador to South Korea

Gutman's last position at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs was as head of the Policy Planning Bureau (2016-2019). Prior to this, he held several other positions, including: Director of Israel’s US Consulates Department (2010-2013), Director of Israel’s accession-process to the OECD (2008-2010), Director of the Egypt Department (2002-2005), Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' People-to-People activities with the Palestinians and the Arab World following the Oslo Peace Accords (1995-1997).

Education
Ambassador Gutman Graduated from the Department of Interdisciplinary studies in the Hebrew University with an MA in Middle Eastern Studies. He also holds a BA in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic and in Sociology.

He graduated a Brigadier-General Course in Strategic Leadership in the Israel Defense Forces in 2018.

Personal Background
Ambassador Gutman was born in Jerusalem Israel to Sara Karucci and Yehoshua Gutman. He is married to Avigail (Shiloh) Gutman and a father of three.