ECONOMIC SURVEY
Jerusalem, 20 February 1994
(COMMUNICATED BY GPO)
FOREIGN TRADE:
* ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDITERRANEAN BASIN SMALL ENTERPRISE COUNCIL TO BE
PROCLAIMED IN EGYPT IN APRIL.
An international organization for small and intermediate
enterprises in Mediterranean basin countries is due to be established
in April 1994. The declaration of the international organization's
establishment will be made at an international economic conference on
the subject of small and intermediate enterprises to be held in Egypt
in April 1994. The organization will include Israel, Egypt,
Jordan, Turkey, Cyprus, Morocco, Tunisia, Greece, Algeria, the
Palestinians, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and, apparently, Syria
and Lebanon. The Director of the Council of Small and Intermediate
Enterprises at the Manufacturer's Association, Shoki Abramovitz, was
a member of the small team that, in Turkey, recently drew up an
outline for the organization. The team included, among others, Hans
Werner Miller, the Secretary General of the European Community's
Organization of Small and Intermediate Enterprises. ('Ma'ariv',
18.02.94)
FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS:
* ISRAELI COMPANIES TO PARTICIPATE AT AGRO EXPO '94 IN CHINA.
For the first time, 19 Israeli companies will be participating at
the Agro Expo in China, which is to take place in Beijing on April
12-16, 1994. The Expo, held by the Chinese Agriculture Ministry as an
official, international trade fair, is the largest agricultural
exhibition in China. It will focus on agricultural and technological
inputs. Israel sees great export potential for all the agricultural
inputs it produces, such as irrigation equipment, greenhouses,
fertilizers, seeds and equipment, as well as for integrated agricultural
projects. The Israel Export Institute will be sponsoring a national
pavillion at the expo. Among the companies participating will be
Agrexco, HaZera, HaOgenPlast, Haifa Chemicals, Koor, and Na'an
Irrigation Systems. Israel Export Institute - 03-5142830
DELEGATIONS:
* IMF DELEGATION ARRIVES IN ISRAEL.
A delegation of the International Monetary Fund is to arrive today
(21.2.94) in the framework of the annual consultations which the IMF
holds with all its member-countries. The delegation, including officials
from the IMF's Europe and Middle East departments, will also hold
meetings with Palestinian officials, in order to prepare a special
appendix on the territories which will be attached to the annual report
on Israel. The delegation is also expected to meet with the Bank of
Israel Governor and officials from various Bank departments; the Finance
Minister; officials of the ministries of Industry and Trade, and Health;
heads of the banking system and academics. At the end of its visit, the
delegation will present a preliminary report on the Israeli economy to
the Governor of the Bank of Israel.
Bank of Israel - (02)-552712
GOVERNMENT SECTOR:
* NEW ISRAEL-EUROPEAN UNION AGREEMENT WILL BE SIGNED IN EARLY 1995.
Israel is seeking a status similar to that currently enjoyed by EFTA
countries vis-a-vis the European Union in trade matters and economic
cooperation. Israel's main objective is to achieve maximum integration
in the European economy without being an official member of the European
Union. This, according to Foreign Ministry Deputy Director-General Oded
Eran, who will head the Israeli team to the talks with the EU which
begin this week. One of Israel's working assumptions is that its ability
to close the gap in the balance of trade with Europe ($5.7 billion)
depends not only on the trade agreements but also on its ability to
compete in a fair manner in government tenders, where most of the
capital is. These include tenders of municipalities and government-owned
authorities, such as ports. Israel will therefore seek to improve its
standing in these tenders and, among other things, open up new fields,
such as telecommunications, on a reciprocal basis. In a related matter,
the Bank of Israel is examining the monetary aspect of the expected
agreement with Europe, including sections dealing with banking, monetary
supervision, stock exchange activities and insurance. ('Globes',
17.2.94)