Israeli exports to the Arab world rose 48% in 2004
September 14, 2005…Israeli exports to the Arab world rose 48% in 2004, to US $180 million, with another US $12 million in Israeli exports sold indirectly in Arab countries, the Israel Manufacturers Association (IMA) said in February. IMA president Shraga Brosh added that the improved atmosphere in the region could help drive foreign investments as high as US $3 billion in 2005—more than three times the US $800 million invested in Israel in 2004. Brosh predicted that closer diplomatic ties with Egypt and Jordan and increased cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) “will allow trade with the Arab states and the Palestinian Authority to take off already in 2005.”
Brosh attributed the growth in Israel’s exports to Arab neighbors primarily to increased trade with Egypt and Jordan. Exports to Jordan rose 55% in 2004, to some US $134 million, and consisted mostly of textiles, clothing, leather goods, wood products, furniture, paper, and printed material. Exports to Egypt rose 11% last year, to about US $29.2 million, and included primarily chemical and petroleum goods, textiles, and clothing.
Manufactured exports from Israel to the PA rose 9% in 2004, totaling NIS 1.6 billion (US $372 million), and included edible goods, plastic, rubber and metal products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, building materials, and communications equipment. Exports to Persian Gulf states, primarily machinery and telecommunications equipment, grew 110%, to about US $1.9 million, and exports to Morocco rose 33%, to US $8.9 million.
The IMA said that exports to Iraq rose tenfold in 2004, to some US $5 million, from approximately US $500,000 the year before. The goods were imported mostly by United States military forces stationed in the country and included consumer goods, moving equipment, plastic and rubber products, as well as industrial and military equipment. GoodNewsFromIsrael
I don’t understand why do we need to import leather goods, clothes and paper from Israel, I don’t understand why do we need to import such products at all. It’s not like we everybody is employed and I’m not sure manufacturing costs will be less in Israel.
Tags: Israel
What a shame!
Comment by Eman — September 15, 2005 @ 10:18 AM
Israeli exports to the Arab world rose 48% in 2004
Israeli exports to the Arab world rose 48% in 2004 -
…Israeli exports to the Arab world rose 48% in 2004, to US $180 million, with another US $12 million in Israeli exports sold indirectly in Arab countries, the Israel Manufacturers Association (IMA) s
Trackback by Palestine Blogs reBlog — September 15, 2005 @ 10:55 AM
Check out the economic theory of comparative advantage to understand why trading with Israel may make sense. It doesn’t just revolve around labour costs.
I hope that trade in the area increases. Nothing lances the boil of politics like making everyone better off.
Comment by Neil Levine — September 16, 2005 @ 3:30 PM
Neil, I understand there is more to this. It could be technology, it could be a way to save current resources as long as its cheaper to import.But is it really cheaper to import from Israel in particular??
Comment by SugarCubes — September 16, 2005 @ 3:54 PM
Well transport costs which normally take up a large percentage of transaction costs are obviously going to be much cheaper for one. Trading with neighbours is usually a ‘good thing’ e.g the European Union, NAFTA etc
Is your question less an economic one than a political one?
Comment by Neil Levine — September 16, 2005 @ 3:56 PM
Yes, I suppose if its almost equally beneficial to trade with other countries (other than Israel) we must not make any deal with a settler. Its not really smart to support Isreal’s economic you know
Comment by SugarCubes — September 16, 2005 @ 4:06 PM
If you are trading with Israel, you would be benefiting your economy too. You don’t wish Jordan’s economy to grow stronger?
Supporting Israel’s economy is paradoxically a better route to achieving political settlement than not supporting it. Economically strong countries tend to engage less in disruptive political decisions which will affect the middle class majority’s wealth as this tends to be the power base of the elected.
Economic isolation, as well as the political isolation, Israel currently suffers perpetuates its policies. The history of the past 60 years shows that disengagement politically and economically does not work. Economic carrots work much better than political sticks.
Comment by Neil Levine — September 16, 2005 @ 4:20 PM
Simply Neil, I believe that if we can make the same amoung of money (or even if slightly less) by dealing with any other country, shame on us if we make a deal with Israel.
Comment by SugarCubes — September 16, 2005 @ 6:49 PM
Even when, as I said, dealing with Israel means a political solution may become closer?
Comment by Neil Levine — September 17, 2005 @ 7:37 AM
From the Jordanian Blogosphere
On International Affairs:
With the Israeli withdrawal, there is a lot to say in the Jordanian blogosphere about Palestine, both in relation to the withdrawal and otherwise. Biesan describes the withdrawal as “a historic day for the Palestinian p…
Trackback by Global Voices Online — September 17, 2005 @ 8:07 AM
Neil, you mean like putting economical pressures on Arabs to accept Israel as a neighboring country? No thanks.
This discussion is going no where. As long as Palestinians are being killed everyday, homeless and unemployed talking about peace with Israel (even though its there technically between governments) is to say the least unethical.
Comment by SugarCubes — September 17, 2005 @ 4:34 PM
I was not suggesting putting pressure on Arab countries economically. I still don’t think you see my point here which is that economic engagement with Israel may lead to progress in the political situation. This would be of benefit to the Palestinians. Not engaging economically with Israel is the history of the past 50 years and it has not achieved anything. If your position is that no contacts should be developed with Israel until the situation improves, I fear we may be waiting a long time. I would rather see positive, progressive changes rather than a negative, static situation.
Comment by Neil Levine — September 17, 2005 @ 5:20 PM
I fear this is not for me and you to decide on. We already have relations with Israel and I fail to see how Palestinians in particular benefited from that. Yes Jordan might have benefited economically and politically from that but other than that, it did not solve anything.
Comment by SugarCubes — September 17, 2005 @ 6:02 PM
Can we name some of these products by brand or companies who uses raw materials for manufacuring so as we can spread awarness among people who prefer to buy and help kill more Palistinians or boycot these merchandise.Can someone please spread awarness its like Halal food or none,howcome more people refuses to eat pork products and agrees to buy Israeli products,so here we say it do u wana buy a non Halal product go ahead and do,can we spread the msg.and let the Arabs B aware,or only fatwa is given for killin other arabs,and thats 4 another subject.
Comment by DUDU LAND DUDE — October 9, 2005 @ 11:03 AM