Economy is good shape
Moody’s chief economist Dr Mark Zandi reckons that Israel has one of the world’s best economies. It’s fiscal situation is better than ever, the debt-to-GDP ratio is low and continues to fall, its economy has been growing for 15 straight years, and there's almost no unemployment.
Why Israel’s energy matters to the EU
According to the Greek Energy Forum, Israel’s potential source of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) would be of major benefit to Europe. It could also have some diplomatic benefits.
Israel and China agree trusted companies
Israel and China have signed an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Agreement, which approves importers and exporters who adhere to all international labeling and shipping regulations. The AEO agreement fast-tracks the customs process and will increase trade volumes.
More investment in startups
Investment in Israeli startups continues unabated. In the first 3 months of 2015, 46 Israeli startups raised a total of $54 million. This compares to the last quarter of 2014 when 44 startups raised only $41 million.
Shared taxi service for Manhattan
Israel’s Daniel Ramot realized that the Israeli monit sherut (service taxi) model could work in New York City. For $7 (or $5 prepaid) passengers can share a ride with 3 others in a luxury SUV from 110th Street down to 14th Street.
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Stay at an Israeli hotel in Europe
Israel’s Fattal Holdings has purchased 18 European hotels for 200 million Euros. Fattal Hotels already has 35 European hotels, plus another 30 in Israel
It pays to pay for good customer services staff
Israeli digital ad agency Web3 employs only top customer service people to promote its services. Web3 and its Maple and Positive Media subsidiaries operate in 15 countries. Customers include L’Oreal, Microsoft, Proctor and Gamble, Heineken, Unilever, Ford and Citroen
A different kind of safari
A businessman is offering Australian entrepreneurs a unique tour of Israel’s Silicon Wadi this October.
What to do with those foreign coins
When you land at Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Tbilisi, Milan or Manila, look out for the big yellow (Israeli) TravelersBox machines. Deposit your spare foreign coins and notes and convert them into digital currency. Coming soon to Brazil and (of course) Tel Aviv.
EMC expands Haifa R&D center
IT giant EMC is to hire 50 more employees at its Haifa research and development center. EMC has thousands of Israeli employees: in Petach Tikvah, Galil Yam, Herzliya, Haifa and Beer Sheva. EMC came to Israel in 1996. In 2012 it bought Israel’s XtremIO for over $400 million.