Shraga Brosh, Israel Manufacturers Association president, predicted last week, at an end-of-year press briefing in Tel Aviv, that the economy would experience stronger growth in the coming year after achieving growth of just 4% in 2005

The first stage of the Haifa port development project which include the construction of a 700-metre long container quay and supporting container-stacking areas was approved last week by Haifa municipal area development committee

Statistical analysis made by the economic department of Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (IEICI) and published last week showed that Industrial exports to China, excluding diamonds, fell in January-September 2005 by 3.5% to $453 milli

Israel succeeded last week to extend its right to demand 28% reciprocal procurement through 2008. Ministry of Industry and Trade officials said last week that Israel's original agreement concerning reciprocal procurement with the World Trade Organization

Chinese and Israeli representatives signed last week a tourism cooperation deal. The signing ceremony held in the Dan Carmel hotel in Haifa, marked the end of a week-long visit of the Chinese delegation's to promote Chinese tourism in Israel

Analyst Khatija Paruk from the economic department of the Deutsche Bank released last week a positive survey of the prospects for the Israeli economy in 2006

The ministry of industry & trade and Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (IEICI) decided last week to add Thailand to the list of target countries for the years 2006 and 2007

The Bank of Israel informed last week that inflation expectations for the coming year, January - December 2006, had averaged 2%, compared with 2.1% in November, 2.4% in October, and 2.5% in September