Shraga Brosh Manufacturers Association president and Israel Export Institute chairman issue last week a press release indicating that Israel's industrial exports in the first quarter of 2005 were 5% down in real terms

A few days before the visit to Israel by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan due shortly, the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) hosted a joint delegation of leaders of Israel and Palestinian economic organizations in Ankara

"The Economist Intelligence Unit" (EIU) published last week its latest survey of the Israeli economy. According to the survey the Israeli economy in 2005 is generally stable and strong due mainly to rising exports and inflow of rather large foreign invest

Shraga Brosh, Chairman of the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute said last week that the number of Israeli companies using Cyprus as a bridge for international business increased by 2.5% compared to last year

The Bank of Israel research division reported last week that growth in economic activity continued in the first quarter of 2005, in all sectors.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reported last week that unemployment is falling faster than originally expected

Mr. Avi Paz was elected last week president of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE). Paz replaces Mr. Shmuel Schnitzer, who served three consecutive terms as IDE president

Manufacturers Association president and Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute chairman Shraga Brosh predicted last week that Foreign investment will reach $4-5 billion in 2005, compared with $1.6 billion in 2004