The UK Prime Minister has announced the creation of a "tech envoy to Israel" as part of a move to encourage further co-ordination between the two countries in the start-up and technology fields.

Saul Klein, a partner at investment firm Index Ventures, will act as an unpaid ambassador for tech partnership between Britain and Israel and help build links with innovative Israeli companies.

He will be tasked with advancing the relationship between business in the UK and Israel by hosting events and supporting tech companies working in such sectors as digital innovation, life sciences and Cleantech.

Mr Klein already serves as an advisor to the UK Israel Tech Hub, which was launched last October in order to boost economic growth.

"We want to work much more closely with Israel on innovation and technology," said Mr Cameron, praising the "countless talented young people in both our countries".

Mr Cameron, who made the announcement at the Conservative Friends of Israel lunch, spoke of Mr Klein's "huge experience in early-stage investment".

"I have worked in tech in both the UK and Israel, and I know that there is a huge potential synergy between our two tech economies," said Mr Klein. "Britain could get a huge economic boost by partnering up with Israeli tech. Israeli innovation could benefit from using Britain's global reach, world-class companies, our scientific base, our capital markets and our business development expertise.

He added that it was appropriate that the UK's first ever Tech envoy should be to "the Start-Up nation," as Israel has been dubbed.