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Israel’s Diamond Industry Continues to Sparkle

July 14, 2008 – 4:55 am

Israel’s Diamond Industry

By Sharon Gefen

Israel’s diamond industry, one of the largest and certainly the most advanced in the world, is stronger today than ever before. In 2007 net polished diamond exports topped $7 billion, and continued to rise by 6% in the first half of 2008. Import of rough diamonds reached $5.1 billion in 2007, with these imports up over 15% for the first six months of 2008. Exports of rough diamonds – in large part to Israeli factories in the Far East, Eastern Europe and other locations – were valued at $3.37 billion and have risen by over 25% from January to June 2007.

For many years, Israel has been one of the world’s leading centers for both the manufacture and trade of polished diamonds. Processing about one-half of the world’s gem-quality rough in dollar terms, Israeli diamond companies today provide the stones that garnish a vast amount of the diamond jewelry sold worldwide.

As it looks to the future, this wholly export-based industry seeks to expand into new markets, to broaden its ties with rough diamond suppliers, and to continue its technological development in order to streamline the diamond manufacturing process in Israel.

Leading the industry in these efforts is the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI), a non-profit, public interest company funded by the Israeli Diamond Industry and the government professional training department. IDI’s main functions encompass marketing, business promotion and public relations, industry-wide R&D, expansion of rough sources, security consulting and professional training.

"The impressive figures for 2007 and 2008 point to the inherent health of Israel’s diamond industry and its ability to adapt to changing conditions,” said Moti Ganz, Chairman of the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies and President of the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association. “They also reflect the major efforts of the Israeli Diamond Industry, under the leadership of IDI, to expand its business activities to reach new horizons in both the rough and polished fields,” he added.

Marketing is the Key

As in all export industries, marketing is one of the main ingredients in success. IDI acts to enhance Israel’s position as a world diamond hub – in developed markets such as the U.S., Europe and Hong Kong and in new markets such as China and India.

Israel’s Diamond Center in Ramat Gan, the largest in the world, was built to accommodate thousands of diamond buyers every year. As the number of buyers visiting the center has decreased, the Israeli industry has redoubled its efforts to reach out to the buyer. IDI has led the way, by opening offices in New York and Hong Kong, and by introducing Israel Diamond Pavilions at leading trade fairs around the world.

This year, for the first time, IDI has added the India International Jewellery Show in Mumbai to its annual calendar. This is in addition to major shows in the U.S., Europe, Hong Kong and China.

Tapping New Rough Sources

The necessity of ensuring an ongoing supply of rough diamonds to the Israeli industry has caused IDI to invest great efforts in seeking new sources. According to Eli Avidar, IDI Managing Director, this is one of the most significant challenges facing the industry today. “We are working together as an industry to ensure a steady supply of rough diamonds. We are active in all of the existing and emerging rough diamond centers, and this year made special efforts to develop strong relationships with African producing countries." Avidar noted that IDI organized the Third International Rough Diamond Conference in February 2008, which brought to Israel, in addition to all of the major rough diamond companies, high-level representatives of most of the African diamond producing countries. In late 2007, The Israeli Diamond Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Liberia to promote cooperation in the diamond sector.

Promoting the Industry through the Internet

The Internet is opening up new horizons for the Israeli Diamond Industry. IDI’s portal site, www.israelidiamond.co.il is the definitive website for businesses seeking contact with the Israeli industry. It functions as a daily work tool and venue for the diamond industry in Israel and worldwide, providing industry news, in-depth articles, interviews, photos and video clips, postings of diamond demands, special features such as Wikidiamond, as well as a full index of Israeli diamond companies.

The portal creates a B2B marketplace for the exchange of business contacts that lead to actual transactions. With thousands of registered users in 128 countries, the portal is a dynamic site, with content being updated throughout the day. Every month the site has tens of thousands of entries, and hundreds of thousands of pages viewed. A Hebrew site also exists, as does a Chinese portal, launched last year to support IDI’s marketing efforts into the enormous Chinese market.

Keeping Ahead Through Technology

Israeli technological advances are well known around the world. In the diamond industry as well Israel has made a substantial contribution. Through IDI’s Israel Diamond Technology Center (IDT), research and development is carried out to streamline the manufacturing process – from rough to polished.

From Cottage Industry to Mega-Industry

The Israel diamond industry has indeed come a long way since it was first launched in the 1930’s by enterprising immigrants from Belgium. A handful of factories operated in Netanya and Tel Aviv in the 1940’s, and came together to establish the Israel Diamond Exchange in 1947. With the establishment of the state in 1948 came a large influx of immigrants, who were enlisted to work in this growing industry. Locally-developed manufacturing techniques made it possible to train workers within months.

As the industry began to export globally, Israeli diamantaires became increasingly cosmopolitan, first selling their goods in the far corners of the world and later setting up offices in New York, Antwerp, Hong Kong and Tokyo. With the entry of the second and third generation of Israeli diamantaires into their family businesses, manufacturing and marketing methods have become more sophisticated. Still the essence of the industry has remained the same for the past 70 years: a high level of professional expertise, combined with originality, creativity and ability to adapt to changing conditions. Building on these assets the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies is confident that Israel will retain its position as a major world diamond center, and its leaders are committed to investing all necessary efforts to ensure that this is so.

By Avi | Also posted in Business | Comments (0)

Ronaldinho out Assulin In? Meet The New Leo Messi!

April 22, 2008 – 3:21 am

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Israeli young football player Gai Assulin is going places, no doubt. His coach in the second team of Barcelona talks about it, the first team’s president counts on it, and his family, that has already rejected some very tempting offers from other teams, simply knows it. The dream seems closer than ever - an Israeli football star in the first team of Barcelona, one of the leading football clubs in the world.

Assulin is currently living with his father, Eli, in the center of the Catalonian city. Seeing his son playing in the "Camp Nou", maybe the most famous football stadium in the world, was his dream ever since his son’s coaches told him, when the talent was only 10 years old, they have never seen such a potential. In 2003, when Gai was only 12, his father contacted the person in charge of recruiting new talents to Barcelona, and offered his son to take for the annual young talents’ tournament in neighboring Andora. The Spaniard, who has seen a talent or two in his lifetime, watched the Israeli child dribble and kick the ball, and had only one request from his men - bring this child to Barcelona, as fast as you can.

 

Last year, Gai received offers from leading clubs in the English Premiership, including Chelsea and Arsenal. It seems like the Catalonians had no real reason to worry. Although they have lost some young talents in the last couple of years, Gai and his father had no intention to leave Barcelona for money. It seems they have made the right choice: the young Israeli star graduated from Barcelona’s youngsters’ team and joined the second graduate team in the third league of Spain. Gai, the youngest player in the league, is already considered to be one of the best players in his team. In fact, he even played for the first time with the first team in September in the Catalonian cup. Surely he can’t forget these 45 minutes, playing next to some of the biggest football stars in the world.

Soon Gai will have to make a big decision regarding his future. Gai was recently called up by the Israel national football team for their friendly match against Chile. He debuted for Israel by replacing Yossi Benayoun in the 78th minute of the friendly. By playing in this match, he broke Ben Sahar’s record for youngest national team debut by 195 days.

By Iob | Also posted in Sport | Comments (0)

A New Bewitched Road In Israel Has Been Found

April 1, 2008 – 12:48 am

>road_to_jerusalem_2
The First Bewitched Road In Jerusalem. Thanks To Dribal.com (In The Photo: Road No. 1 To Jerusalem, And Road 38 Is The Bewitched Road)

Would you believe it if we told you that there’s a certain spot in Israel, that if you drive your car there and leave it in Neutral or just release your foot from the breaks, despite standing downhill, your car will start moving backward?

And would you believe us when telling you that there is more than one such spot in this enchanted country?

Well, for all your doubters, you’re welcome to try it yourselves, and drive either to road no. 65 in the lower Galilee area at the north of Israel, or to a small road in Jerusalem, located under the Armon Hanatziv Promenade in the Jabel Mukaber neighborhood of Jerusalem. Both of these “bewitched roads” will provide you with a similar thrill – having your visual and physical perceptions conflict.

Of course there’s a scientific explanation for this bewitched roads phenomenon (there always is, isn’t there?). The explanation lies in an optic illusion caused by the physical features of the landscape around these roads. Whether it’s a hill, a mountain, a valley or a building that is situated near the road, when looking at them and comparing them to the road it appears to extend in a certain slant. But the actual slope, compared with the actual terrain, is spread the other way around.

We’re sorry if we’ve disappointed you, those who prefer to believe there’s still some magic left in this world of ours. But whether you’re a believer or a down-to-earth realist, you’ll still like to see it for yourself and put your perception to the test. Make sure you include the lovely Galilee road or the small Jerusalem neighborhood in your Israel road trip, to enjoy a bit of magic as experienced in one of these bewitched roads.

By Iob | Also posted in Humor | Comments (2)

Angela Merkel’s Historical Visit to Israel

March 20, 2008 – 7:27 am

 

A historic visit to Israel of several members of the German government, lead by Chancellor Angela Merkel, was recently concluded. The visit included a joint cabinet meeting that was held in the Israeli Knesset, in which mutual praises were exchanged by the two heads of states, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Chancellor Merkel. Due to the sensitive history of the relationships between the Germans and the Jewish people, the visit has caused quite a lot of fuss both in Israel and in Germany.

Merkel, the first German head of government to address the Israeli Knesset, used the opportunity to pledge her unwavering support for the Jewish state on the eve of its 60’s birthday, having been founded shortly after the Nazi Holocaust in World War II. She also criticized Hamas’ rocket attacks on Israel and Iran’s threats against Israel’s existence.

In Germany, newspaper editorials actually praised Merkel’s conduct in Israel, but they also warned that Germany must not appear too pro-Israeli, as this might interfere with its ability to play a mediating role in bringing peace to the Middle East.

On the Israeli side, several angry voices were heard regarding Merkel’s speech in the Israeli Knesset, which was to be held in the German language. Several members of the Knesset voiced their opinion about the lack of sensitivity shown by the decision to enable that speech, especially toward the living Holocaust survivors, for whom the German language represents their worst oppressor. Those Knesset members chose to skip the event in order to stress their disapproval.

Perhaps in regards to that controversy, Merkel chose to open her Knesset address in a short speech in Hebrew, saying that the Nazi Holocaust causes her and her fellow Germans to be filled with shame. Her speech was made at the end of a 3 days trip to Israel which included a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem.

The historic visit was sealed with a joint statement by the two cabinets indicating the strengthening of the political, cultural, economic and social relations between Germany and Israel, which included a signed agreement instituting future annual meetings at prime ministerial, ministerial and cabinet levels.

By Israel On Blog | Also posted in Politics | Comments (0)

eCamp 2008 - International Technology Summer Camp

February 23, 2008 – 2:02 am

ecamp

The first international technology summer camp in Israel has announced it will be opening its doors this summer. eCamp, designed to bring enterprising young people from around the world together for a unique interactive experience, is expecting over 300 children from the ages of 10-18 from countries across the world in its first year. The camp will be based in the eVillage of Aloney Yitzhak, 28 miles (45 km) from Tel Aviv but will continue with interactive and online learning throughout the year.

eCamp Israel is an International Technology Summer Camp, opening the gates to the #1 success story of Israel – technological innovation. eCamp Israel introduces the campers to an enriching experience that touches their deepest emotions and spur creative energies in their minds. We provide an original, creative and fascinating program, matching worldwide youth with Israeli peers in a unique way using universal language – technology. eCamp Israel is an overnight summer camp where youth from all over the world who love technology get together for an unforgettable experience. It is officially supported by the president of Israel, Israeli Ministry of Tourism, and the Minister for Diaspora Affairs.

Mr. Shai Agassi, Founder & Chief Executive Officer- Project Better Place has joined the team of ecamp Israel as Chief Scientist.

“As one of the global centers of technological innovation, it is time Israel gives back some of our know-how and share it with children from around the world,” said Nir Kouris, co-CEO and an Israeli entrepreneur. “Our biggest wish is for campers to experience the magic of Israeli innovation first hand, hear from technologists how they persevered despite the odds, and be empowered to realize own dreams in a virtual world.”

Campers to Visit with Titans of Israeli High Tech Community

eCamp will take full advantage of being home to the second largest number of start ups in the world, second only to Silicon Valley, despite having a fraction of the population. The country’s small size, serves as a ‘kid friendly’ laboratory to have access to some of the best known technologists, companies and successes of tomorrow.

“Only in Israel can we expose campers to the brains of the high tech world,” added Nir Kouris.

eCampers will meet with entrepreneurs including the founder of ICQ, now the originator behind the AOL Instant Messenger. Children at eCamp will also visit leading Israeli research centers such as Intel, Microsoft, Google, Motorola, and train in the Israeli Air Force’s flight simulator. Participants will have experience theoretical developments by visiting leading academic centers such as the Technion and Weitzman Institute.

Interactive Labs and Projects Replace Classes or Lessons

eCampers will engage in interactive projects at the cutting edge of technology. Each camper will be expected to design and invent their own projects. Participants will be using the same high top-class software and hardware that Israeli high tech innovators use to change the world.

“Workshops are not school lessons, hence from day one all classes are cancelled,” said Kouris. “Kids work on their own projects in a collaborative environment – a true open space lab.”

Campers will be able to choose from a diverse array of workshops which include creating 3d animations, flash programming, Web 2.0 video creation, web design, robotics, computer programming, or even the opportunity to develop their own mobile-device video game.

On eCamp Israel, Teenagers will get a chance to take part on a unique Google Gadgets Developers – Workshop hosted by Google Israel.

Shai Agassi, Accepts Role as eCamp’s ‘Chief Scientist’

While participants will be able to experiment and explore, they also learn how to utilize innovation to make the world a better place.

Shai Agassi, a hero in Israel’s technology world, former SAP executive and founder of Project Better Place, which is focused on developing a sustainable environmental solutions by making viable electric vehicles, has accepted role as eCamp’s Chief Scientist.

“Through Technology Tikkun Olam (“Repairing the World” through Community Service), campers will help solve global problems that are challenging our world,” explained co-CEO Dotan Tamir, the co-founder. “I’m honored to be among Israel’s technology leaders who are rightfully making time to share our triumphs, and struggles, with the eCampers.”

eCamp Israel is operated in partnership with Oranim Educational Initiatives, Israel’s leading educational travel company, to provide a safe and satisfying experience. Campers will be housed at the eCamp Village, a picturesque nature reserve at the residential village in Aloney Yitzchak.

“Campers from around the world will experience the ‘Silicon Wadi’ in a comfortable, secure, and enriching environment. Participants will experience the summer of a lifetime through the gift of eCamp Israel, where they can learn from the world’s best and design their future,” said Tamir.

By Iob | Also posted in Hi-Tech, Start-Up | Comments (0)

A small city in Israel sues Google for false information

February 11, 2008 – 1:56 am

kiryat yam-google

Officials in “Kiryat Yam”, a small city in northern Israel, have filed a complaint with police against the Internet search engine Google. The city argues that one of Google’s programs, Google Earth, gives viewers false information that offends the city’s image.

Those who see “Kiryat Yam” on Google Earth are told that the city was built on the ruins of an Arab town from which innocent civilians were expelled. In fact, officials said, the city was built by Holocaust survivors on land that was completely barren and had not been settled in the past. The false information was placed as part of a deliberate attempt to hurt the city’s interests, they said.

It is important to note that Google is not the one who posted the comment on Google Earth. One of the most popular features in the program is that users can contribute their comments on specific places on the map.

The information on Google earth was posted by a user by the name of “Thameen_Darby“, a Palestinian living in Jenin, who took on himself to post comments on hundreds of Arab villages that were vanished in 1948 when Israel was declared a state.

Update:

My friend Paul who writes on networkworld inform me that he sent a mail to Google,
asking what they have to say, and i must admit their answer was really surprising…”Not our fight”…
you can read it on networkworld.com.

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By Iob | Comments (8)
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