There are over 6,000 companies traded on NASDAQ, AMEX and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

A search of Israeli companies reveals that 57 are currently trading in these markets, primarily NASDAQ. To give this stat some kind of perspective, no other country in the Middle Eastern region has even a solitary representative. UK firms number less than ten.

There are many reasons why Israeli financiers look to America to raise money, often overlooking closer destinations like London on the way. They range from ease of paperwork to intense marketing by NASDAQ to lower admin costs, and more.

The latest Israeli IPO in preparation for the American scene is Caesar Stone. This kibbutz based manufacturer is a well-known local supplier of quartz surfaces. That said, nearly 90% of its sales come from overseas markets, a position protected by a patent on its technology.

Despite the global recession, Caesar’s profits for the past year shown a significant increase. As an overseas media person told me last week, the story of Israel’s economic success has yet to be fully told.

(Disclaimer: I have no position in Caesar Stone)