Israelis pay less tax
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Israelis pay less tax than residents of 22 of the OECD’s 34 member countries. Israelis pay an average of 31.4% in total taxes, compared with the OECD average of 34.4%.
Increase in Israeli cyber security exports
Exports of Israeli cybersecurity software and services grew by 10% in 2015 from their previous $3 billion value in 2014. There are 300 Israeli cybersecurity companies, led by Check Point which has a $14.2 billion valuation.
Cleaner water
Israel’s Amiad has opened its first UK office, in Swansea - home of Welsh Water, to support increasing demand in the UK and Europe. Also, Israeli irrigation specialists Netafim has signed an exclusive distribution agreement to market Amiad's Arkal product lines for the irrigation market in numerous countries.
Purifying Schweppes in Australia
Israel’s Mapal Green Energy has signed its first major contract in Australia – supplying a system to clean up wastewater from Schweppes’ factories throughout the country.
Frutarom buys into Israeli algae
Israeli flavors and specialty natural ingredients company Frutarom has purchased 50% of Algalo Industries, based at Kibbutz Ein Hamifratz near Haifa. Algalo has a unique and innovative method for cultivating algae that contain active ingredients for the food nutrition industry.
VW eyes Israeli tech for self-driving car
Israel’s Mobileye has signed an agreement with Volkswagen in preparation for installing Mobileye's self-driving technology in Volkswagen vehicles. Mobileye is already working with two other car manufacturer that with VW would account for one third of global auto sales.
The worst kept secret
Israel has no diplomatic relations with Indonesia - the largest Muslim country, but bi-lateral trade reaches hundreds of millions of dollars a year. One of the Indonesia’s top venture capitalists spoke to a crowd of 600 at Tel Aviv’s Israel Foreign Trade Conference, but his name could not even be reported.
Optimistic economic prospects
Israel’s economic future looks good, according to this report.
Less exits but more profit
Israeli high-tech companies generated $9.02 billion in profits from 104 exits in 2015. The number of exits decreased by 10% compared to 2014, as more Israeli companies grew rather than sold out. Total profit from exits rose 16%, with the average exit deal in 2015 amounting to $87 million.
Business is booming in China
An unprecedented 150 leaders from 90 Israeli companies recently attended a two-day investors’ summit in Beijing. Meanwhile, Israel Aerospace Industries is to build a development center in Shantou, China in order to expand local aircraft manufacturing.