Israel Active

Despite the ongoing spat with Turkey, Israel’s exports to them doubled to $0.5 billion in the first three months of 2011. Turkey is now Israel’s 3rd highest customer of Israeli products.

Hailed as an innovative success, Israel’s idea of a two-year state budget cycle is to be adopted by Western countries, including the USA.

Despite rumours that he may be offered the position of the next head of the IMF, Sir Stanley Fischer proudly presented a rosy picture of the Israeli economy and stated that he liked his current job. Meanwhile, the Bank of Israel revised upwards its GDP forecast of economic growth from 4.5% to 5.2%

The rate of construction of new properties in Israel has reached a 10-year high.

It may sound minor, but the 500 shekel compensation, awarded by a judge to a traveller on Israel Railways due to overcrowding, was a big surprise to us often forgotten Israeli consumers.

Israel’s cows produce the most milk in the world, and Sufa is the top of the milk. She produced 20,000 litres last year (nearly twice the Israeli cow average) despite the stress of rockets from Gaza.

Israel is to advance bilateral business, technology and economic relations with the Indian State of Karnataka. In the first-ever Research & Development agreement between Israel and an Indian state, Karnataka benefits from Israel's innovations and Israel benefits from the Indian state’s resources.

According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow to Israel totalled $11.37 billion in 2011, 106% more than the $5.51 billion in 2010.

Hopefully you will always seek out and purchase Israeli goods whenever possible. Here, however, is some well-in-advance notice of “Buy Israel Week” – Dec 1st 2012. Also information to help keep in touch with what is going on.

Israel's unemployment rate dropped to a record low in February. For those aged 15 and over, the rate declined to 5.8% from 5.9% in January. For those between 25-64 the rate dropped dramatically from 5.4% to 4.9%. Participation in the labor force rose to a record high of 80%.