More goods changing hands
Photo: Ata Awisat
Trade with Palestinians up 37 percent
Israeli trade with Palestinian Authority grew from USD 1.4 billion in 2003 to USD 1.9 billion in 2004; Federation of the Israeli Chambers of Commerce: PA imports should increase
TEL AVIV - Trade between Israel and the Palestinian Authority stood at USD 1.9 billion in 2004 - an increase of 37 percent over the previous year, according to the Economics Department of the Federation of the Israeli Chambers of Commerce.
In 2001, trade stood at USD 1.4 billion, taking a dip the following year and bouncing back to earlier levels in 2003.
Hoping for improved security situation
In 2004, the total amount of Israeli imports to the PA reached USD 1.6 billion, a 26 percent increase over the previous year’s figures. The PA is the second largest importer of Israeli goods after the United States.
Meanwhile, Israel imported USD 300 million worth of goods from the PA in 2004 - an increase of 36 percent over 2003’s numbers.
“There’s no doubt that the increased security situation will allow trade to take off with the PA,” said Federation of the Israeli Chambers of Commerce Chairman Uriel Lynn.
