Harel-Hertz Investment House

04/11/2014

Official Israeli Delegation Leaves to Solidify Japanese Alliance
5-day visit of leading government and industrial representatives sets out as Japanese trade booms.

By Ari Yashar 11/3/2014, 1:02 PM

Israel continues to turn East as Prime Minister's Office Director-General Harel Locker on Monday left for Japan leading a delegation of 30 senior representatives.
The official visit, which according to Calcalist will last 5 days, follows on the heels of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's May visit, the signing of an Industrial R&D Agreement in July which is the first such agreement Japan has signed, and a visit last month by Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister for Jerusalem's Japanese Culture Week.
The delegation leaving on Monday aims to deepen economic ties between the two countries even further, and it will present Israeli technology to large Japanese corporations, in an effort for greater cooperation timed ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Other aims of the visit include establishing direct flights between Israel and Japan, encouraging Japanese research and development centers in Israel, and having a reciprocal delegation sent to Israel from the Japanese industry.
Those goals are being acted on as Japanese companies are increasingly showing interest in the Israeli market, and the Israeli Embassy recently responded by marketing travel to Israel for the Japanese in an innovative Japanese anime cartoon.
In meeting with senior figures from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's office, the Japanese parliament and finance ministry, Locker will be joined by leading representatives from governmental and industrial offices.
Representatives will include members of the aerial industries, Elbit, Rafael, Teva, IBM, Amdocs, EMC, Q Core Medical, SecurityDAM, and 3MIsrael.
Japan's interest in Israel has been growing, as seen in the massive Japanese online store Rakuten's recent purchase of the Israeli company Viber for $950 million, reports The Marker. Likewise it was reported last week that the Japanese Kurita Water Industries bought an Israeli water treatment company for $320 million.
According to export figures, in the first half of 2014 commerce between Israel and Japan rose 11%, ending at $954 million as opposed to $856 million in the parallel period of 2013. Export to Japan rose by 10%, reaching $342 million, and import rose 12% figuring in at $612 million.

08/09/2014

Japan says economy contracted 7.1 percent in 2Q

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's economy shrank more sharply in the second quarter than first estimated and the latest indicators suggest only a modest bounce back since then.

The world's third-largest economy contracted at an annualized rate of 7.1 percent in the April-June quarter, according to updated government figures Monday. The initial estimate released earlier this month said the economy contracted 6.8 percent. Business investment fell more than twice as much as first estimated.

The economy's contraction was expected after Japan increased its sales tax from 5 percent to 8 percent on April 1.

24/08/2014

We thank all our Japanese friends and Business Partners who showed sympathy and cared ,so much about our where-about.
Those of you who who wrote , called us and proved genuine interest, are friends indeed !

09/08/2014

Dear Friends
Last month was a very special month , course of events have brought our conflict back to the center-point of interest. We could discuss this issue in so many ways. Still , since our interest is focused on the bilateral relations , I wish to dedicate this monthly letter to a very special friend. Ambassador Hideo Sato

On August 5th Ambassador Sato and Mrs. Sato returned to Japan , as his term as Ambassador of Japan in Israel has come to its end. Ambassador Sato was with us in Israel for about two and a half years. But not enough!

The diplomatic career of Ambassador Sato, is strongly involved in the Middle East at large and Israel in particular. Mr. Sato studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and is a true scholar in Jewish History , Philosophy ,Culture and Language.
Sometimes when duty called us to speak at his presence , we sometimes were embarrassed how rich his Hebrew is compared to us.
Ambassador Sato spent four periods of his career here in Israel, but his first responsibility as Ambassador of Japan was in 2008 in Afghanistan, I believe this was one of the most difficult times , as that country was in complete chaos, and one of the most dangerous places on earth. He then moved to be the Ambassador of Japan in Bahrain ( 2009). A very important Economic partner to Japan. In Bahrain Ambassador Sato could experience at first hand the impacts of “The Arabic Spring” ( Which apparently was the rebirth of Islamic ultra-Fundamentalism)
In October 2011 , Twenty Nine years after entering Gaimusho, he ( so I believe) fulfilled his outmost goal to become Ambassador to the State of Israel.

As Ambassador He had the privilege to head the celebration of the 60 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries. He saw the relations between Japan and Israel flourish and expand. Many dignitaries visited both countries , our Prime Minister visited Japan, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and METI Minister (the last ,first time in decades)paid a visit here, important missions of statements and experts, visited both countries and a productive dialogues in many fields of mutual interest were inaugurated.
In the Economic area , more and more Japanese companies realized the importance of Israel as a technological beehive , while more and more Israeli companies realized the importance of the Japanese markets , Foreign investment started pouring both ways, and new ventures on both sides were established.

As Japan was recovering from the Tohoku Earthquake , Israelis started touring Japan , and as always in our case, we do everything with great enthusiasm . last April hundreds of tourists groups visiting Japan , returning to Israel totally in love with your country.

Ambassador Sato, is a great believer in Peace, in an article he wrote in the Israeli paper of Ha’ Aretz on March this year he explained:

“… It’s not by accusing the other side with slanders and calumnies but by opening a such serious dialogue that we can reach understanding and find peaceful solutions.”

If it was in his availability , he would have stripped of his official Diplomatic Suit, and would have dedicated himself totally to bring Peace and Understanding between Israel and the Palestinians.
Ambassador Sato returned to Tokyo , as another round of violence in Gaza and the South of Israel , was at its peak. This surely was not a proper farewell gift.It broke his heart ,as it broke ours , but it did break out hope and our belief.
Hideo Sato, is also a very dear and intimate friend of mine , we know each other almost thirty years, contributing ( each in its own manner) to the bilateral relations of our two beloved countries. He is a gentleman, an intellectual and a totally dedicated advocate of the cause he is serving. No wonder he became so popular among colleagues , officials and simple laymen.
Thank you Hideo for being with us , Thank you for everything you have done and accomplished, Thank you for being a man of truth and thank you for being such a good friend for so many ( and also for us)
Well , today , we are forced to retire in the middle of life, when we are full of energy and our skills of prime value. It is beyond doubt that you shall find so many ways to continue and contribute, So it is certain , your whereabouts shall lead you ,again to the center point of interest
So, Dewa Mata Ambassador Sato. Enjoy your return home , enjoy your family , your reunion with your local friends, and then start all over again….

26/06/2014

Itamar Medica signs distribution deal in Japan.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-itamar-medical-signs-distribution-agreement-in-japan-1000947940

Nihon Kohden will market Itamar's EndoPAT cardiology device to Japanese doctors and hospitals.

21/05/2014

Dear friends,
We are excited to announce the publication of the detailed guide to doing business with Japan, which was researched and written by Harel-Hertz Team and published by The Israeli Export Institute.
This guide portrays the most up to date information of various industries in Japan and business opportunities for Israeli companies and individuals.
For an electronic copy please contact us at one of the following:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you!

חברים יקרים,
אנו שמחים להכריז על הוצאתו לאור של המדריך המקיף לעסקים עם יפן אשר נכתב ונערך ע"י צוות הראל-הרץ בשיתוף המכון הישראלי ליצוא.
המדריך כולל מידע עדכני על מגוון תעשיות והזדמנויות לשת"פ ישראלי עם יפן.
להזמנת המהדורה האלקטרונית אנא שלחו מייל לאחת מהכתובות הבאות:
[email protected]
[email protected]
תודה!

15/05/2014

Katana combat vessel
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4484946,00.html

The Katana, named for a samurai sword, will be used to protect oil rigs, ship interception, port security. IAI highlights the craft's reliability, with "no chance of a mishap stopping a mission"

05/05/2014

今日はイスラエルの戦没者記念日です。"ヨム　ハジカロン"　といいます。
イスラエルのすべての戦争で戦没した兵士を追悼します。今日、戦没者に対して、二分間の黙祷をささげます

05/05/2014

http://www.timesofisrael.com/hacktivists-cant-win-with-israeli-security-system/?utm_source=Start-Up+Daily&utm_campaign=1aafb2068c-2014_05_04_SUI5_4_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fb879fad58-1aafb2068c-54645413

It’s not worth defacing sites that use Foresight’s Defacement Mitigator; no one will know the hack took place