Economy Minister Nir Barkat spoke at the defense tech conference hosted by Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth in collaboration with the Chamber of Engineers, Architects and Technological Academics in Israel. Barkat addressed his aspiration to privatize Israel's defense industry companies, such as Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries, and to list them in the United States rather than on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. He said that 'only failed companies list in Israel, successful high-tech companies go straight to the US and list there. The aggregate value of the companies will grow by at least 50%, and such a listing will bring more than 100 billion shekels to the State of Israel. Half of that can be set aside for Israel's security.'