Israel Active

This in-depth article describes how the “start-up nation” Israel is increasingly exporting its business and culture of entrepreneurship to America. =

Israel’s $5 billion per annum trade with India could double once a new free trade agreement between the two democracies is signed.

Israeli digital engagement solutions provider LivePerson has bought US company Contact At Once! for $65 million.  The acquisition adds more clients plus CAO’s unique technology.

(Thanks to Israel21c) Waze co-founder Uri Levine has developed a new app called FeeX.  Upload details of your IRA retirement account and FeeX (Pontera) will report how much you are losing in fees.  It will then give you a list of similar funds that have lower fees.  FeeX is available in the US and Israel.  

The influential international business magazine Inc. included Israeli web development platform Wix in its seven hottest Middle Eastern startups.  It describes Wix as the model example of innovation and success in Israel’s Tel Aviv hub. Wix is advertising during this year’s US Super Bowl.

Israel’s Minister of Economy, Naftali Bennett, headed a delegation of 15 Israeli water companies to advance the sale of Israeli water technologies in China.  Bennett also launched the flagship Israeli project by nominating the city of Shouguang to be the Israeli “Water City” in China.

Israel’s budget deficit for Oct 2014 was NIS 2.1 billion compared with NIS 4.5 billion in Oct 2013.  Government spending was up 3.1% during Jan to Oct 2014 compared to the same period last year.  Tax revenues were up 7.2% over the same period.

(Thanks to Hazel) UK Ambassador Matthew Gould reported that in addition to a 26% increase in bilateral trade, eight Israeli companies have gone public on the London Stock Exchange this year.  Israel’s Teva now produces one in six pills sold in the United Kingdom.

The 3-day Czech-Israeli Water Management Seminar in Prague connected government officials and the business sector to Israeli expertise in water safety and protection, wastewater reclamation and aquaculture technologies – all relevant to the Czech market.

Israel has proposed that EU countries invest in a multi-billion euro pipeline to carry its natural gas to the continent. The pipeline will go via Cyprus, Greece and Italy which all support the idea.