Israeli exports rise to record level

摘要

After a few poor years, Israel's horticulture sector has recorded record exports of fresh produce. Privatisation, innovation, advanced technology and being able to meet international standards have helped reverse the stagnating sector. The export of fresh produce from Israel during the first 10 months of 2005 registered an all-time record, according to data released by the country's Central Bureau of Statistics. And the figures point to a continuation in the development of the agricultural sector "inthe desired direction of export-oriented agriculture," according to the Foreign Trade Department at the Ministry of Agriculture. The value of the export of fresh export from January-October 2005 amounted to US86o million dollar, an 18% increase comparedwith the same period in 2004. Of special interest is the significant increase in the export of fruits, to US132 million dollar in January-October 2005 compared with US66 million dollar for the same period in 2004; and noting a 47% increase in the exportof citrus. According to the Foreign Trade Department, since the Ministry set in 2003 a policy to quadruple within five years the volume of export, there has been a 72% increase in the value of fresh produce: from US495.3 million dollar in 2002 to US86omillion dollar in 2005, for the first ten months during these years, respectively. The value of the total agricultural output in 2005 is expected to reach NIS18 billion (US3-8g billion dollar).