Israel Active

Between Oct 2011 and Jan 2012 Israel’s exports to Asia increased by 9% to $3.1 billion. Exports to the USA fell 7% to $2.9 billion. Exports to Europe shot up 21% to $5 billion.

Caesarstone (owned by Kibbutz Sdot Yam) makes quartz surfaces for kitchens and bathrooms that are sold in 42 countries. Caesarstone plans to raise $90 million in the first Israeli IPO on Wall Street this year. Video emphasises hi-tech, clean-tech, design quality and natural beauty.

Israel’s NLT Spine has raised $5.7 million for the development of its PROW LIF lumbar fusion product line and other products, and to expand in the US. NLT Spine’s innovative technology allows for inserting large implants and instruments through a small incision.

31st May 2012 is the start of the two-day Israel Conference in Los Angeles California. It brings together Israel’s leading innovators and investors in hi-tech, entertainment media, advertising, mobile, content, gaming, e-commerce, energy, clean-tech, security, medical & consumer products.

Israel is among the leading exporters of know-how and technology in the world. The National Council for Research and Development has just reported that in 2010, Israeli companies exported technological services, licensing agreements, patents and the like for a total of $9.5 billion.

In the huge deal, Israeli companies will export water technologies to China, to aid that country with water purification and agricultural projects. The projects will be set up mostly in agricultural areas of the Chinese provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang.

Makhteshim Agan - the world leader in branded off-patent crop protection solutions - will become a strategic investor in NRGENE, a leading developer of cutting edge software-based genetic tools for the crop breeding industry.

Britain’s exports to Israel in 2011 were worth £1.7 billion. Israel’s exports to Britain totalled £2.8 billion. British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould said, “The people calling to boycott Israel make a lot of noise … but if someone is concerned about it, just look at the numbers.”

Over 20,000 visitors, both professionals and the general public, attended Israel’s international wine exhibition at Tel Aviv’s Israel Trade Fairs Centre. The event featured over 100 exhibitors and included buyers and journalists from all over the world.

The Israeli wine industry recorded a 5.5% increase in export revenue in 2011. Overseas sales reached $26.7 million including $1.1 million to Asia.