An initiative from the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Economy
THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT ONLINE TRADE INITIATIVES FOR SMALL
AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL AND THE GAZA PERIPHERY
Economy Ministry 29 September 2014

Marketing consultancy for internet trading, financing for establishing sales
platforms, aid in establishing a control system and promoting online
campaigns – these are only a few of the new benefits for small and medium
enterprises as part of a new program for promoting E-commerce and internet
marketing, soon to be offered to small businesses in Israel * Around 1000
small and medium enterprises in southern Israel will participate in the
first stage of the program * The project – led by the Digital Israel project
in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Israel Small and Medium Enterprises
Authority at the Ministry of Economy – will be operated by the Authority’s
Maof network *

Jerusalem, September 29, 2014 - The government will help set up platforms
for E-commerce to benefit small and medium businesses – in the next few days
the Digital Israel project in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Israel
Small and Medium Enterprises Authority will launch a program for promoting
E-commerce and internet marketing among the small and medium businesses.

Through the program, an aid package will be provided for businesses
interested in setting up an internet store for E-commerce, opening the door
to business opportunities, leveraging their sales potential and increasing
their financial strength, stability and ability to overcome financial
crises, such as the recent one caused by Operation Protective Edge. The
program will operate via the network of Maof branches – the Israel Small and
Medium Enterprises Authority’s new network in the field launched earlier
this year.

Around 1000 small and medium enterprises in southern Israel will participate
in the first stage of the program. The program has been approved as part of
the comprehensive government program for economic development of the
communities in southern Israel and the Gaza periphery, drawn up by the
Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office, Harel Locker.

Services provided for businesses will include
·Courses on internet trading and marketing
·Professional advice by leading experts in the field
·Financing of up to NIS 16,000 to set up a platform for an internet store
·Setting up a payment system on the company’s website and setting up a
delivery system
·Internet marketing and sales campaigns
·Adapting sales websites for cellular use, etc.

Minister of the Economy, Naftali Bennett: “The online world is a vital tool
for small and medium businesses, and we are working to help every business
owner reach the clients waiting for him online. We want the business owners
to be there, and we support the entrepreneurs both in their web activity and
in the path to reach it.”

Director General Prime Minister’s Office Harel Locker: “The Digital Israel
project promoted by the Prime Minister’s Office, serves as a digital
National Roads Company of Israel. This is the way to “erase” the concept of
the periphery by networking Israel with better education, medical services,
welfare services, and doing business independent of geographical location.
The technological support package which the program will provide for small
and medium businesses in the south will allow business owners to leverage
their potential and business exposure far beyond their geographical
location, and contribute to their strength.”

Ran Kiviti, Director, Israel Small and Medium Enterprises Authority at the
Ministry of Economy: “E-commerce opens new doors for small and medium
businesses, in both the local and global markets, and is considered to be a
significant growth engine in the world’s leading economies. We want to help
the small and medium businesses join the world’s most advanced markets,
enabling them to develop and flourish.”

CEO Digital Israel, Dr. Yair Schindel: “The ability to combine a virtual
store, online payment and delivery will allow every small or medium business
in southern Israel to market and sell its products throughout Israel and
abroad. There is great willingness among local and foreign consumers to
purchase products from the south so as to strengthen it, and all that we
need to do is leverage existing technologies so as to enable this to happen
with ease and comfort.”