Made in China? (Archives)
צילום: רויטרס
Municipalities purchase Israeli flags from China
Manufacturers' Association of Israel says 'it is odd that during a recession, city councils provide jobs for workers in China'. Union of Local Authorities in Israel: We're waiting for government to allow us to issue tenders for purchase of locally-made flags
Despite the rising unemployment rate, 90% of the country's municipalities have ordered $500,000 worth of Israeli flags from China, according to the Manufacturers' Association of Israel (MAI).
The Tel Aviv Municipality, for instance, purchased some 8,000 Israeli flags manufactured in China for about $60,000 ahead of the celebrations marking the city's 100th anniversary.
The Union of Local Authorities in Israel (ULAI) blamed MAI President Shraga Brosh for the situation, saying he failed to pressure the government into permitting municipalities to issue tenders for the purchase of locally-made Israeli flags.
Ramzi Gabai, chairman of the textile and fashion division of the Manufacturers Association, said Monday that "it is odd that during a time of recession and growing unemployment the Tel Aviv Municipality provides employment for workers in China."
In his estimation, had the municipalities purchased 20-30% of the flags they eventually ordered from China from Israeli companies, 200-300 additional jobs would have been created.
However, the ULAI told Ynet that "we approached Brosh on several occasions and asked to cooperate with the government to promote the purchase of flags that are manufactured in Israel, but he chose to ignore us."
"The difficult economic situation, the closing of factories and the layoffs have reminded us of the need for municipalities to prefer products that are made in Israel," the Union said.
ULAI Chairman Shlomo Buhbut said the local authorities should be permitted to examine offers by Israeli companies "providing that they do not exceed offers from foreign companies by more than 15%."
The Tel Aviv Municipality said in response to the MAI's claims that "in general the City of Tel Aviv orders locally-made flags. In this case (city's 100th anniversary celebrations), the cost of purchasing flags manufactured in China was 50% lower."
