Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne came to Israel on a five-day trade mission together with 130 government officials, academics, scientists and business leaders.  Two-way trade in 2015 between Israel and Ontario was almost $1 billion, making Israel Ontario’s fifth largest … Continue reading →

Visitors to my home town can now stay at Accor’s luxurious MGallery by Softel hotel.  Rebranded from the David Tower hotel in King David street, the MGallery has a spa, heated indoor swimming pool, restaurants and bar and beautiful views … Continue reading →

Chinese tech giant Kuang-Chi is to launch a $300-million global fund and incubator in Israel.  It intends to invest in the best Israeli companies in the fields of biometrics, communications, robotics, and AR, and to take them to the next … Continue reading →

The first all-women Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) mission to Israel is led by Lucy Turnbull, Australia’s first lady and a respected company director in her own right.  The 36 participants want to learn about smart cities, Israel’s ecosystem and … Continue reading →

Air Europa, Spain’s third largest airline, is adding an additional weekly flight to the three it operates on its Tel Aviv-Madrid route.  It is also adding follow-on routes from Madrid to Colombia, Argentina and Ecuador, starting in late December.  It … Continue reading →

UK businessman Jeremy Coller has donated $50 million to the Tel Aviv University School of Management, which will be renamed after the entrepreneur.  The donation is earmarked for research and development, study programs, and teaching. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-tel-avi v-university-nabs-50m-donation-1001125496

BIG Shopping Centers announced that in early 2017 it will launch BIG+, Israel’s first online shopping platform. It will offer apparel, home products, travel goods, electronics, plus international brands not currently sold directly to the Israeli consumer. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-big-to-launch-israels-first-online-shopping-mall-1001125550

Outside of Tel Aviv, startups also need space to develop.  Powerball in Ness Ziona and In-Vent in Haifa provide facilities and services for those who don’t want to “schlep” to Tel Aviv’s startup hub. http://www.timesofisrael.com/entrepreneurial-workspaces-burst-out-of-the-city-into-the-burbs/

For the sixth consecutive year, Israel lowered the ratio of Government debt in proportion to GDP – this time by 2.1%.  It also reduced interest paid on the debt by NIS 600 million. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-debt-to-gdp-ratio-fell-21-in-2015-1001125525