Hayek: The opening of the office in Israel gives the green light for activity by Japanese companies in Israel.
Japan’s foreign trade organisation JETRO opened its Tel Aviv office yesterday evening (Sunday). Sources at the organisation, who foresee significant expansion in trade and economic relations between Israel and Japan, defined this step as "a new era in commercial relations between Israel and Japan." Export Institute director general Amir Hayek said today (Monday) that the organisation, one of the powerful forces that brought about the abolition of the Arab boycott against Israel, will considerably expand business ties between the two countries. He said that the opening of its office gives the green light for Japanese companies to start operating in Israel.
In the first six months of 1997, products worth $561 million were exported from Israel to Japan, 12.1% less than in the corresponding period in 1996. Total Israeli exports to Japan last year were $1.2 billion.