Israel Active

European smart T-shirt developer AccYouRate is to establish a data analysis center in Tel Aviv to analyze the extensive big data collected by AccYouRate's wearable devices. The move further solidifies Israel's reputation as a destination for data analysis and management advancements.

Leading electronics firm LG has selected the chipset from Israel’s Valens (see previously) to be used in its next generation of cameras for self-driving vehicles. The chipset will be used to connect multiple camera sensors with LG’s camera system to enhance passenger safety.

Around 100 000 people took advantage of a day of free travel on the first day of Tel Aviv’s light rail Red Line on August 18. This followed an official inauguration by the Prime Minister the previous day. The 24km line has 34 stops - 10 of them underground.

The prestigious Seatrade Cruise Awards competition has selected Haifa as one of the three outstanding cruise destinations worldwide for 2023. 235 cruise ships from 31 companies are expected to arrive in Haifa this year, bringing some 250,000 tourists.

New statistics show that numbers of US tourists visiting Israel in the first six months of 2023 were 12% higher than the same period in 2019, before the pandemic. High levels of tourism were also recorded from France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy.

Israel’s fourth solar energy farm at Ashalim in the Negev Desert has started operating and will supply power at a record low price in the electricity market. The 2.2 cents per kwh price is less than electricity production using fossil fuels, and less than similar projects around the world.

Israel’s economy saved more than NIS 316 billion (over $86 billion) in energy savings and environmental benefits over the past decade thanks to its natural gas discoveries. At the end of 2022, the price of electricity in Israel was nearly 50% lower than in Europe.

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Israel’s long-term rating at “A+” with a stable outlook, noting its diversified, resilient, and high value-added economy and strong external finances.

Israel and Vietnam have signed a Free Trade Agreement, Israel’s first with an Association of Southeast Asian Nations member. Direct flights to Hanoi are planned to start in Oct. Israel has also signed an agreement with Ivory Coast in agriculture, water, and tech.

Israel Chemicals Ltd (ICL) owns Boulby Mine in North Yorkshire, the UK’s deepest mine, and currently the world’s only polyhalite mine. Polyhalite, a naturally occurring crystal, is marketed as PolySulphate, a new eco-friendly fertilizer, used on the Wimbledon turf and exported worldwide.