Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Israel Export Institute Lay Trade Foundations

The Israeli side during the signing of the agreement. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Israeli side during the signing of the agreement. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Israel Export Institute Lay Trade Foundations

The Israeli side during the signing of the agreement. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Israeli side during the signing of the agreement. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office, ADIO, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Israel Export Institute, establishing the foundation for strong trade bridges between Abu Dhabi and Israel by unlocking opportunities to collaborate on investments, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

The agreement covers the facilitation of introductions with potential investee companies in both markets, hosting joint events and supporting government and industry delegations. ADIO will work closely with the Israel Export Institute to support trade and investment opportunities for Israeli companies, connecting them with strategic partnerships and resources to foster long-term success in the emirate, WAM said.

The signing of the agreement took place virtually on Monday, and was attended by Adiv Baruch, Chairman of the Israel Export Institute, Gadi Ariely, Director-General of the Israel Export Institute, and Dr. Tariq bin Hendi, Director-General of ADIO.

Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, said, "Rapid progress is being made in laying the foundations for closer private sector cooperation for Abu Dhabi and Israel. This agreement is an important opportunity to strengthen business cooperation and enable technical and commercial collaboration between our respective markets."

Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Director-General of ADIO, said, "ADIO is working to establish links with the key facilitators of investment and innovation between Abu Dhabi and Israel. Our agreement with the Israel Export Institute is an important next step in creating the platform to advance and accelerate opportunities for companies in Abu Dhabi and Israel."

The Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, IEICI, supported by member firms, private sector bodies and the Government of Israel, promotes global economic and business activities, by providing a wide range of export-oriented services to Israeli companies, and complementary services to the international business community. IEICI helps build successful joint ventures, strategic alliances and trade partnerships.

Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry Amir Peretz said the cooperation agreement is another step towards strengthening the growing economic ties with the UAE.

“This agreement gets even greater significance, specifically now, when facing the COVID-19 crisis and while the Israeli economy is in a difficult situation, and the revenue cycle of many established Israeli companies is suffering considerably as a result. I do hope that the economic ties that are being built with the UAE will play a significant part in accelerating the Israeli economy during this difficult period."

Adiv Baruch expressed confidence that the new collaboration will bring significant business outcomes for both parties and we are excited to embark on this common path.

“The Israel Export Institute, together with the Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy, and with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to build the most professional infrastructure promoting global economic activities between the UAE and Israel. The collaboration with ADIO will play a major role in promoting the economic relations between Abu Dhabi and Israel."

ADIO recently announced plans to open an office in Tel Aviv to facilitate connections between innovation-focused companies and organizations in Abu Dhabi and Israel.



Türkiye Cenbank Cuts Rates by 250 Points to 45% as Expected

14 January 2025, Türkiye, Istanbul: A man seen rowing his boat along the Moda beach. Photo: Onur Dogman/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
14 January 2025, Türkiye, Istanbul: A man seen rowing his boat along the Moda beach. Photo: Onur Dogman/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Türkiye Cenbank Cuts Rates by 250 Points to 45% as Expected

14 January 2025, Türkiye, Istanbul: A man seen rowing his boat along the Moda beach. Photo: Onur Dogman/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
14 January 2025, Türkiye, Istanbul: A man seen rowing his boat along the Moda beach. Photo: Onur Dogman/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Türkiye's central bank cut its key interest rate by 250 basis points to 45% as expected on Thursday, carrying on an easing cycle it launched last month alongside a decline in annual inflation that is expected to continue.

The central bank indicated it would continue to ease policy in the months ahead, noting that it anticipated a rise in trend inflation in January, when economists expect a higher minimum wage to lift the monthly price readings, Reuters reported.
In a slight change to its guidance, the bank said it will maintain a tight stance "until price stability is achieved via a sustained decline in inflation."
Last month, it said it would be maintained until "a significant and sustained decline in the underlying trend of monthly inflation is observed and inflation expectations converge to the projected forecast range."
In a Reuters poll, all 13 respondents forecast a cut to 45% from 47.5% in the one-week repo rate. They expect it to hit 30% by year end, according to the poll median.
In December, the central bank cut rates for the first time after 18-month tightening effort that reversed years of unorthodox economic policies and easy money championed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has since supported the steps.
To tackle inflation that has soared for years, the bank had raised its policy rate by 4,150 basis points in total since mid-2023 and kept it at 50% for eight months before beginning easing.
Annual inflation dipped to 44.38% last month in what the central bank believes is a sustained fall toward a 5% target over a few more years. It topped 75% in May last year.
"While inflation expectations and pricing behavior tend to improve, they continue to pose risks to the disinflation process," the bank's policy committee said after its rate decision.
A 30% administered rise in the minimum wage for 2025 was lower than workers had requested, though it is expected to boost monthly inflation readings this month and next, economists say.
The expected January inflation rise "is mainly driven by services items with time-dependent pricing and backward indexation," the bank said.
The central bank has eight monetary policy meetings set for this year, down from 12 last year.