TRADE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND JAPAN REACHES $2.3 BILLION IN 2014
Talks between Economy Ministries of Both Countries to Take Place in Tokyo
this Week to Strengthen Trade Ties and Foster Export Activity

[Tokyo. Jerusalem. July 28th, 2015] – The first economic talks of their kind
will take place between the Ministries of Economy of Israel and Japan (METI)
in Tokyo this week. Ohad Cohen, Head of the Foreign Trade Administration
(FTA) in the Israeli Ministry of Economy will lead the talks along with his
Japanese counterpart, Mr. Hideo Suzuki. The talks are part of Israeli
government efforts to strengthen economic ties with Japan.

During the talks, topics related to Japanese imports and exports will be
discussed, as will cooperation between the two ministries towards promoting
exports and foreign investment. The FTA aims at holding such talks annually
to help find specific solutions to obstacles facing Israeli and Japanese
businesspeople and to work together with the Japanese Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry to strengthen commercial ties.

Israeli Minister of Economy Aryeh Machluf Deri: “We see great importance in
the Japanese market, one of the world’s largest economies, and we believe
that this meeting will help Israeli exporters operate in this large,
important market. The Ministry of Economy is working towards strengthening
cooperation with Japan and increasing our exports to the country, and
accordingly we will launch a targeted aid program in this area.”

Ohad Cohen, Head of the Foreign Trade Administration in the Israeli Ministry
of Economy: “The Japanese economy and society have been undergoing a unique
process of change and openness, which presents a golden opportunity for
Israel – as a source of knowledge and global exporter of advanced
technology – to increase cooperation and tighten economic relations with
this country.”

Noa Asher, Head of Israeli Economic and Trade Mission to Japan: “Following
years of efforts on the Israeli side to promote these talks, one of the
reasons for the dialogue at this time is the tightening relations between
Israel and Japan. This is due, amongst other things, to the mutual visits of
the Prime Ministers of Israel and Japan in May, 2014 and January, 2015,
together with high-ranking business delegations. This dialogue and the
expected results will strengthen economic cooperation between Israel and
Japan in the future.”

According to the Foreign Trade Administration in the Israeli Ministry of
Economy, total trade between Israel and Japan stood at $2.3 billion in 2014,
with exports to Japan reaching $800 million and imports $1.5 billion.