Israel trade with Asia totaled $9.3 billion in January-September. Imports from Asia rose 31% in January-September, compared with that period in 2003, to $5 billion

The latest report issued last week by the World Economic Forum, on Global Competitiveness, ranks Israel in nineteenth place among 104 countries. Israel advanced in the present report one place higher from its rank of 20th in 2003's report

Study published by the British financial weekly “The Economist” shows that Israel’s per capita GDP is almost $20,000 in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP)

The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) in its twice yearly assessment of the world's economy, predicted that growth in the Israeli economy in 2004 will reach 3.6%. The IMF also placed Israel in its list of the 29 most developed countries of the world

Israel’s Arkia airline inaugurated last week a direct air service between Israel to Georgia. On the inaugural flight Arkia’s Boing 757 flew the two and a half hours flight carrying 3 tons of cargo

As of the beginning of June 2004 Zim lines has restructure its service from Los Angeles to Israel. Within the framework of its new service schedule, Zim lines container service ships will not call at Los Angeles port on their route eastwards to Israel.