Israel is the safest country for investing

According to the Bloomberg “riskless return” ranking, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange’s TA-25 Index 7.6% risk-adjusted return over the past ten years was the highest of the benchmark indexes of the top 24 developed-nations.

NICE fights crime in Hawaii

Several major International banks have purchased Actimize Enterprise Risk Case Manager from Israel’s NICE Systems to identify and report suspicious transactions related to money laundering and terrorist financing. The latest is the First Hawaiian Bank – part of BNP Paribas.

UBS opens up in Israel

The Swiss banking giant has launched a Wealth Management business in Tel Aviv. UBS Israel CEO Kobi Faigenbaum said UBS identified Israel as an important market and decided to deepen its operations here. UBS ranked Israel alongside Brazil and Russia, and ahead of the Gulf states.

Wireless in America

Close on the back of last week’s deal with Russia’s Tele2, Israel’s Ceragon has now won a substantial order from Telefonica for its wireless solutions. They will be installed in Chile, Panama and Venezuela to support Telefonica’s 25 million subscribers there.

Turning on the lights in Russia

Israel’s Micro Components Ltd (MCL) has commissioned the first Russian-based production of components for Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). By 2015 the factory is expected to produce 70,000 panels a month (around 3% of the global market for these components), sufficient for 7million LEDs.

Amiad wins $10m worth of Australian orders

Kibbutz Amiad builds wastewater treatment systems and filters. Recent orders include automatic self-cleaning screen filters for a desalination plant near Perth, and pre-filtration of Liquefied Natural Gas, in Southern Queensland.

IMF gives Israel a good report

The International Monetary Fund has just completed an in-depth analysis of the Israeli economy. They were quite impressed – and gave some useful advice as to how to keep it strong.

Tourism is still booming

Israel has been hosting the 18th International Mediterranean Tourism Market show in Tel Aviv.

A partnership to sell to the Arab world

Companies targeting the Arab world should consider an Israeli-Palestinian Arab joint venture. Much cooperation exists between Israeli and Palestinian Arab entrepreneurs who have excellent access to the Arab world and are willing to collaborate with Israeli and foreign providers.

Victoria’s Secret is out

The fashion company is opening its first Israeli stores at Ben Gurion Airport.