Israel — a country in the Middle East on the south-eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea
It shares land borders with Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan on the east, Egypt to the south.
Official languages — hebrew, arabic
Capital — Jerusalem
Form of government — parliamentary republic
Head of state — president elected by the Knesset for a seven-year term by secret ballot. Supreme legislature — the Knesset — is the unicameral national legislature. Central executive branch — the government, headed by the Prime minister. The highest tier of a court system — the Supreme court of Israel (the High Court of Justice).
Currency — Israeli new shekel (ILS)
Population — 8,08 million people (97th in 2013)
GDP — $291,357 billion (37th in 2013 according to The World Bank)
Market Access
Tariff barriers: Israel tariff barriers
Non-tariff barriers: not declared (with regards to Russian products as of the 1st of July 2014)
Trade relations with Russia: according to the Federal Customs Service in 2013 the Russia-Israel trade turnover reached $3,578 billion (+23% in relation to 2012). Russian export amounted to $2,085 billion (+27% in relation to 2012); import reached $1,493 billion (+13% in relation to 2012).
In 2013 the Israel’s share of the Russian foreign trade volume was 0,2%.
Mutual trade dynamics is characterized by steadily growing import and variable export.
Source: The Federal Customs Service of Russia
Import structure from Israel to Russia
(according to the Federal Customs Service of Russia; thousand of USD)
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Export structure from Russia to Israel
(according to the Federal Customs Service of Russia; thousand of USD)
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Major foreign trade partners of Israel
(according to International Trade Center; thousand of USD)
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Source — The Central Bank of the Russian Federation
Investment dynamics from Israel to Russia
(thousand of USD)
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Investment dynamics from Russia to Israel
(thousand of USD)
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The low Russian-to-Israel investment level can be explained by the requirements to foreign companies willing to participate in construction and property development activities. The requirements are unacceptable to the majority of Russian companies, in particular in energy and transport infrastructure construction that is usually financed by the contractor with a gradual investment return after a number of years of infrastructure use.
Integration
In 2012 during the Vladimir Putin and the Israel’s president Shimon Peres and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu negotiations the Israeli party proposed to establish a Free Trade Area with Russia.
In March 2014 the Customs Union and Israel set up a joint FTA-perspective research group.