Israel Active

Israel's unemployment rate fell in July, to 6.2%, from 6.5% in June.  The number of people in full-time jobs (35 or more hours per week) rose by some 27,000, or 1% compared to June.

Embassy of Israel in London’s Nathan Tsror says, "Despite the fact that over 70 per cent of the country has been exposed to increased volumes of rocket attacks, the robust Israeli economy continues to operate as normal with very little impact from the conflict."

The Leviathan partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Jordan for the export of $15 billion of gas over 15 years. The agreement will make Israel Jordan's principle supplier of natural gas in the coming decades.

Israel's Mekorot National Water Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Kazakhstan for a program to develop the country's water resources. Geographic constraints are causing a water shortage in Kazakhstan.

(Thanks to Atid-EDI) Israel’s DSIT Solutions has received an order for its Underwater Security System to protect am unnamed European Nuclear Power facility.

(PR Newswire) Israel’s Pointer Telocation has been awarded a $1.3 million supply contract to provide tracking solutions for an unnamed customer in Africa.  Pointer’s advanced cargo and monitoring devices will enable safe and efficient delivery of goods between various countries in Africa.

StartupEast is the only accelerator in Israel having extensive business networks across Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong and Seoul. Its goal is to bridge between Israeli innovation and the immense market opportunities, which Asia presents.

(Thanks to Nevet – ) Technology giant Apple will soon open an official office in Israel for marketing and sales.  Apple already employs 600 (mostly Research & Development) staff.  Apple is building new offices in Herzliya Petuach to house all its employees.

I doubt if we will see Mossad agents driving around Israel in the Bond car, but I expect that at least one of Israel’s successful entrepreneurs will splash out $2 million on an Aston Martin Vanquish.  I just hope that he/she doesn’t try driving 300km / hour down my street.

Comparing Israel’s 1984 statistics with 2014 really puts its economic miracle in context: GDP rose from $30bn to $300bn; GDP per capita from $7k to $38k; Foreign currency deposits from $3bn to $89bn; exports from $10bn to $90bn; and its public debt ratio fell from 280% to 66%.