Photo Credit: Gili Yaari / Flash 90
Working in a hi-tech environment.

While Israel’s economy is increasingly impacted by the global economic meltdown – which has decreased tax income, increasing budget deficit, requiring substantial cuts in government expenditures – Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics revealed some fascinating statistics.

Israel’s economic growth during the 2nd quarter of 2012 was 3.2%, surpassing the 2.5% expectation, compared with a 2.8% growth during the 1st quarter. Growth per capita increased 1.4%, reaching almost $30,000. Exports of goods and services –40% of Israel’s economic activity – surged 10%, following a decline during the previous three quarters. Private consumption rose by 5.4%.  Investment in fixed assets, which constitute a key growth engine, fell by 1.1%.  Imports declined 9.3%. Inflation assessment is within the 2%-3% target, but recent and expected price increase raise concerns (Globes Business Daily, Aug. 17).

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Beyond economics, Israel is excelling in other fields. According to an August 2012 Bloomberg global health survey of 145 countries, Israel ranked 6th in the quality of healthcare it offers its population, along with their general health status. The report was based on information by the World Bank, the UN the World Health Organization, and studied life expectancy, mortality rate, and obesity levels among other factors.  Israel followed Singapore, Italy, Australia, Switzerland and Japan, ahead of the Holland, France, Canada, Britain and the USA. While Israel’s hospitals are crowded, and there is a shortage of doctors and medical staff, medical care in Israel is funded by the government for all citizens, regardless of their financial means. Israelis’ life expectancy is among the highest in the world.

Israeli companies are still attracting foreign interest. Qualcomm, the $105 billion San Diego-based digital wireless telecommunications giant, has acquired Israel’s DesignArt for $130 million, leveraging Israel’s innovative manpower. Qualcomm operates an Israeli R&D center, employing 260 persons (Globes Business Daily, Aug. 23).  Europe’s $5 billion STMircoElectronics acquired Israel’s bTendo for $9 Million, which will be the core of ST’s R&D center in Israel (Globes Business Daily, Aug. 6).

The NYC-based OrbiMed Healthcare Fund Management led a $20 million  round of private placement by Israel’s Ornim, joined by General Electric. This is OrbiMed’s third investment in Israeli companies (Globes Business Daily, Aug. 22).  William Murphy, the CTO of the NYC-based Blackstone Group announced the first Israeli investment by the world’s largest private equity fund – the data security start-up WatchDox Ltd. (Globes Business Daily, Aug. 14).

Israel is also making its mark in the sporting arena. 35 years ago, the Soviet basketball champion boycotted Israel during the European Championship. During the 2012 London Olympics, David Blatt the Israeli coach of the Russian national team – a former Princeton basketball star, who is also the coach of Israel’s champion Maccabee Tel Aviv – was credited by his players for winning the bronze medal.

Originally published at http://www.theettingerreport.com/Overseas-Investments/Qualcomm%E2%80%99s-Confidence-in-Israel%E2%80%99s-Economy.aspx

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Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger is consultant to Israel’s Cabinet members and Israeli legislators, and lecturer in the U.S., Canada and Israel on Israel’s unique contributions to American interests, the foundations of U.S.-Israel relations, the Iranian threat, and Jewish-Arab issues.