ECONOMIC SURVEY (GPO)
March 24, 1994
PEACE ECONOMY:
* ISRAELI COMPANY SUPPLYING EQUIPMENT TO PALESTINIAN BANK BRANCHES IN
TERRITORIES.
Oranim Silencer Ltd., from Kiryat Bialik, is currently completing a
large shipment of advanced acoustic material and computer furniture to
branches of the Bank of Palestine now under construction in Judea and
Samaria. The deal, worth NIS 700,000, is being called 'the first of its
kind'. It will supply furniture and acoustic material to Bank branches
in Ramallah and the other towns of the West Bank. According to the
company's Managing Director, Roni Edi, 'We offered the Bank of Palestine
the Ilbrock company's best acoustic equipment, for whom we are the
exclusive marketing agents in Israel.' ('Ma'ariv', 23.03.94)
FAR EAST/CHINA:
* ECONOMIC AGREEMENT SIGNED THAT WILL ENABLE ISRAELI COMPANIES TO
PARTICIPATE IN CHINESE GOVERNMENT TENDERS.
Israeli and Chinese representatives have signed an economic
agreement, at the close of the Israeli-Chinese Joint Economic Committee.
Industry and Trade Minister Director-General Yossi Senir signed for
Israel. Chinese Deputy Foreign Trade Minister Huan Shang signed for
China. The agreement opens the door for Israeli industry to participate
in Chinese government tenders. It also stipulates that steps be taken
for signing an agreement for the prevention of double taxation. The
agreement will be signed, in all likelihood, by Finance Minister Avraham
Shohat during his visit to China, which was supposed to take place next
month but which has been postponed.
Standards Institute Director-General Eli Hadar has signed an
agreement with the senior Chinese government body engaged in import and
export inspections, which establishes mutual recognition of each other's
certificates. The agreement is important for Israeli exporters to China,
in that it prevents the future use of non-tariff barriers; specifically,
it prevents use of the claim that goods do not meet standards as a
pretext for barring imports. Industry and Trade Minister Micha Harish
met with the Chinese Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic
Cooperation. The Minister said that she is seeking to encourage a range
of economic cooperation between Chinese and Israeli companies, mainly in
fields in which Israel hasa technological edge and where the Chinese
could contribute a low-cost production capability as well as access to
export to neighboring countries. The financing will be done mainly
through third parties; finance companies from Hong Kong, Singapore, and
Taiwan have already applied to Israel's trade representatives in those
countries and have sought to initiate meetings with Israelis. Also,
cooperation in the communications field was discussed at a meeting
between Israeli company representatives and the [Chinese] Minister of
Posts and Telecommunications. It was pointed out that ICI and Tadiran
Communications won a tender in China for setting up a unique
communications line. ('Globes, 22.03.94)
* ORMAT TURBINES LTD. SIGNS AGREEMENT TO BUILD POWER STATION IN CHINA.
Ormat Turbines Ltd. Managing-Director Eli Yaffa has signed an
agreement of intent with the governors of several Chinese provinces for
constructing a 24-megawatt power station. The full agreement will be for
20.5 years, with Ormat supplying most of the equipment. Ormat already
built a power station in southern China two years ago. Menahem Barkat,
responsible for Haifa Chemicals' Chinese projects, received a report in
China on successful experiments that were conducted in 20 Chinese
provinces on the use of potassium nitrate fertilizer, which is one of
Haifa Chemicals main products. The sophisticated fertilizer is designed
for intensive agriculture, special crops, tobacco, flowers. The
experiments in China were conducted in these areas, China being the
largest tobacco grower in the world. Medis company representative Amos
Aran signed an order to export a breast and intestinal cancer diagnostic
machine to China. Negotiations are being conducted for the sale of an
additional machine. ('Globes', 22.03.94)
* EXPORT INSTITUTE ORGANIZING SEMINAR FOR FINANCIAL MANAGERS IN HONG
KONG AND SINGAPORE.
A seminar designed for financial managers will be held in Hong Kong
and Singapore at the end of June. The seminar is being organized by the
Israel Export Institute and will introduce its participants to the
business culture, and financial and logistical systems of these
countries. Avner Portnoy, Director of the Institute's Export Services
Branch, said that the idea to hold the seminar arose in the wake of the
accelerated economic growth in the countries of East Asia, and the
concomitant economic opportunities for Israeli industry.
* COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN HEBREW UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF
AGRICULTURE AND BEIJING AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Faculty of Agriculture and the
Beijing Agricultural University have entered into a cooperation
agreement. The agreement was signed following a recent visit to Beijing
by a delegation from the Hebrew University Faculty of Agriculture. The
agreement provides for the Hebrew University to host visiting Chinese
scholars for advanced study at the Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot.
Also, members of the Faculty of Agriculture staff will visit the Beijing
institution for the purpose of giving lectures, conducting seminars, and
meeting with staff. The agreement also provides for the exchange of
scientific articles and books published by researchers at the two
institutions, exchange of genetic materials, and the sharing of
information on conferences and seminars sponsored by the signatories.