The Israel Ports Authority (IPA) reported last week profits of NIS 518 million for 2004. The profit represents a surge of 430% over 2003, despite the long summer strike at the three main sea ports

Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute said last week in a press release that a South African trade delegation would be visiting Israel. The delegation consists of representatives of ten South African companies

According to sources at the Israel Ports Authority, the ports workers union had concluded a round of talks with the Finance Ministry in which it was agreed that the Ports Authority would offer 27% of all workers at the state-owned ports - about 630 employ

In a press release issued upon publication of its first forecast for 2005 the Manufacturers Association predicted that Industrial output would grow by 5%, and exports by 9.5%, (compared with 17% in 2004 ) to $26.5 billion

Minister of Industry Trade and Labor Mr. Ehud Olmert said last week that Israel and South Korea are considering to negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics ( CBS ) gross exports was up last year by $6.7 billion to $38.5 billion, a 21.2% increase over 2003. Imports was up $6.9 billion to $41.1 billion, an increase of 20.1%

The Director General of the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Yossi Bachar, has left on Sunday (23/01/05) for a week-long working visit to Singapore and Hong Kong

An El Al plane flew to Sri Lanka and Indonesia, carrying 85 tons of emergency aid materials donated by Israeli organizations and companies. The plane landed in Colombo, Sri Lanka where equipment for emergency food kitchens donated by the National Council