The Israeli economy never ceases to surprise, even the self-acclaimed experts. Have a look at these five snippets of info, and ask yourself why they are not reported in the world press for others to learn from.

1. In a period when the global economy is wondering how to generate new growth, Israel has just announced that its unemployment figure is at a new all-time low of 4.6%. That is a major achievement of which most other OECD countries can be jealous.
2. After decades of trying, Israel’s exports have begun to find new markets in Africa. Countries like Zambia and Kenya had been forced to put aside Israel’s offerings in their attempt to appease the Arab League. This pressure has been substantially removed, and thus exports from the Holy Land to the continent are likely to double or more in 2017.
3. In high-tech, Israel’s strengths are well documented. Only last week, CA Technologies invested US100 million in the purchase of the Tel Aviv company BlazeMeter. And Intel, one of the first American conglomerates to enter the country, is about to construct a state-of-the-art r&d centre near Tel Aviv. Never mind the coffee shops and restaurants for workers. Nor that employees’ tech instruments will “talk” to each other. This will be a fully GREEN 34,000 sq m work space, which will be the envy of many around the world.
4. And then there is the car industry, where since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israel has been seen as the ‘enemy’, due to the high cost of oil. However, today Israeli tech is sought after by the manufacturers. And the reason? Look at VW that intends to invest tens of millions in a new company called CyMotive Technologies, because there is a genuine fear that smart cars can be hacked just like smart phones. This presents a threat to human life. Interestingly, the company is partially run Yuval Diskin, the former head of the Shabak.
5. And continuing on the theme of the motor trade, Arkal Automotive is a relatively unknown company, locked away toward the north of Israel. The majority share holder is an agricultural kibbutz. And yet it has contracts with BMW, Mercedes, Opel and others to supply light weight, glass fibre components for vehicles. Total sales revenue will increase from about US$82 million in 2015 to well over US$90 million this year.

If there is a joint message in all of these points, it is a very simple one. Israel has so much to share with the rest of the world. And many of its products are in use in homes and on the road in most countries in the world. Embrace this knowledge for your own betterment of life, or just lose out.