The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) invited last Wednesday Israel, along with Russia, Estonia, Slovenia and Chile to join the Organization

The main contenders to join besides Israel are Chile, Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa, Cyprus and the latest European Union members

The minister of Transport & Road Safety noted the event is a succesful initiative and added that he hopes this event will become an annual tradition. A diplomatic gathering within the event attracted 40 diplomats

According to“Euromoney”, Israel scored in total 68.2 points, out of the maximum 100, in the 2006 rankings. Israel is down two places

Mr. Yehiel Asia predicted that manufacturing exports to Latin American countries will increase this year by 3%

David Artzi estimated that in 2006 export would show a 5% increase in exports to Latin America, to total USD 1.4 billion

OECD nations have said they hope that faster decision making will make it possible to admit new members and give the organization a more global, and less European, bias

Manufacturers Association of Israel (MAI) reported last week that kosher for Pessah wine exports, between December 2005 and March 2006, fell 9% to $7 million compared to last year