Israel Active

54 percent of Israel's plastic bottles were recycled in 2012, compared to 31.8% in the U.S. and 52.4% in OECD countries. 2013 data shows that Israel recycled 56% of its plastic bottles. 350 million bottles were recycled thanks to more than 20,000 recycling deposit stations.

A new route has been inaugurated for the export of Israeli goods to Asia and the Arab world from the Eilat port via Jordan’s Aqaba. Shipping times and costs to the Far East are less than those from Haifa and Ashdod, as it saves the need (and NIS 300,000 fees) to transit the Suez Canal.

(Thanks to Atid-EDI) TMC Customer Magazine has awarded Israel’s NICE Systems a 2014 CRM Excellence Award. The award recognizes NICE Interaction Analytics for boosting the sales effectiveness, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency at a leading U.S. retailer.

According to a survey released recently by Israel fund administrator Tzur Management, Israel-based hedge funds assets increased in value by 33 percent between 2011 and 2013, outperforming both foreign-based funds and the local equity market.

Israeli wave energy technology developer Eco Wave Power won “The Most Innovative Technology” award at the Mixiii 2014 event. Although an Israel-only competition, Eco Wave Power has world-changing potential. It has raised $10 million to fund its projects.

Ex-Ambassador Yoram Ettinger writes a positive summary of Israel’s recent business and economic activity.

Israel's debt-to-GDP ratio - the most important index for measuring a country's fiscal and financial soundness - fell to 66.1% in 2013 from 67.1% in 2012. In 2006 the ratio was 82% and in 2002 it was over 100%. The average debt-to-GDP ratio among developed countries is 108.5%

The France-based international cheese makers' association, La Guilde Internationale des Fromagers, is opening its first office in Israel. A delegation from the prestigious association awarded membership to chef Meir Adoni, gastronomist Michal Ansky and six local boutique cheese makers.

Elbit Systems has inaugurated its Incubit Technology Ventures accelerator at the Beersheva High-Tech Park. Incubit is the first technology incubator in Israel owned by a homegrown Israeli corporation. It has already invested in two ventures and plans more than twenty in the next eight years.

Yossi Rabinovitz, CEO of Israeli e-commerce start-up SelfPoint is showing that the Haredi high-tech revolution is growing rapidly. SelfPoint, a member of the Microsoft Ventures Accelerator, lets customers easily set up and use an online store for their merchandise.