Good News Israel presents an Israeli app to hail a UK taxi; Apple CEO Tim Cook visits Israel to open new headquarters, and much more.
By Michael Ordman
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Budget surplus
Israel’s Ministry of Finance announced a 5.3 billion-shekel budget surplus for Jan 2015. Tax revenues were 2.3% higher than for Jan 2014 and have been growing by 4-5% each month.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-nis-53b-fiscal-surplus-in-january-1001008549
Reinforcing the rain in Spain
A delegation of 11 Israeli water companies visited Spain, presenting technology such as filtering and purification to infrastructure companies. They impressed one Spanish multinational, Abengoa, which employs 26,000 employees in 80 countries.
http://israelnewtech.com/2015/02/israeli-water-technologies-spanish-infrastructure-companies-promising-combination/
Huge demand for Israeli hi-tech jobs
Impressive success in Israel’s high-tech industry boosted demand for employees by 12% in 2014, compared with 2013. Salaries of mobile developers rose by 10-30%.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-high-tech-employee-demand-up-12-1001007387
A billion-dollar Israeli company
2014 earnings for Israel’s NICE Systems reached $1.0124 billion, up from $950 million for the previous year. NICE specializes in data and voice security and analysis.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-nice-systems-2014-revenue-breaks-1b-barrier-1001007353
Intel Israel exports $4.3b
Intel Israel’s exports totaled $4.25 billion in 2014 (up 10% on 2013) accounting for about 4% of Israel’s total exports of goods and services in 2014. Intel is spending around $800 million upgrading its factories in Kiryat Gat and $1.87 billion per annum in purchases from Israeli suppliers.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-intel-israels-2014-exports-total-425b-1001008230
Israel Aerospace wins cyber security contracts
Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) has won two cyber-security contracts worth tens of millions of dollars. IAI develops advanced cyber solutions for intelligence, protection, monitoring identification and accessibility.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-aerospace-industries-wins-cyber-security-deals-1000999272
Innovators meet Dealmakers
The Israel Dealmakers Summit 24-25 Mar 2015 in New York City promises thousands of global entrepreneurs, innovators, dealmakers and investors. It features world-class speakers and networking in the areas of Digital Media, Mobile & Wireless, CyberSecurity, Life Sciences and much more.
https://www.israeldealmakers.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=110354&
Tel Aviv encourages start-ups from abroad
Tel Aviv has 1,515 high tech companies that employ 43,000 workers. Now, Tel Aviv municipality subsidiary Global City is giving incentive packages to entrepreneurs from abroad in order to add knowledge, diversity, and become global – thus strengthening the economy.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-tel-aviv-offers-incentives-for-start-ups-from-abroad-1001008198
Microsoft buys Israeli digital pen company
Multinational software giant Microsoft has bought Israel’s N-trig for an estimated $200 million. N-trig has developed a chip for a digital pen and computer screen interface.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-microsoft-buys-digital-pen-co-n-trig-for-200m-1001009295
Use an Israeli app to hail a UK taxi
UK readers will soon be able to use Israeli taxi app GetTaxi in seven UK cities. GetTaxi has been operating in London for 3 years and is expanding to Edinburgh, Liverpool and Manchester immediately. It will also launch in Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow in the next few months. GetTaxi has also launched an app for smart-watches running the Android Wear operating system.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-gettaxi-to-expand-operations-to-six-british-cities-1001009288
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-gettaxi-launches-android-smartwatch-app-1001008987
Apple CEO to inaugurate new Israeli HQ
Apple boss Tim Cook is coming to Israel to formally open Apple Israel’s new headquarters in Herzliya Pituach. Apple’s Israeli development center will house 800 Israeli employees, mainly from Apple’s purchases of Anobit, PrimeSense and from hiring ex-Texas Instruments staff.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-apple-ceo-tim-cook-to-visit-israel-next-week-1001009285
Sodastream announces healthier beverages
Israel’s Sodastream is launching new lines of products made of all natural flavors and ingredients, less sugar and no preservatives. The reduced calorie, zero calories, nutritional supplements and lightly sweetened water series will be launched this spring, initially in Israel.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-sodastream-to-launch-healthier-flavors-in-israel-1001008513
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