Goals and Objectives

A brief overview of the services of the Chamber of Commerce simultaneously gives a picture of its activities, ever since it came into existence in 1969. The most important purposes of the Chamber and the real mainstay of its work is the service of information for the entrepreneurs of both countries, who intend to export their manufactured products to the other country. One of the main duties of the acting office of the Chamber is to find information for Swiss entrepreneurs about the Israeli market and to share information with interested parties in Israel about possibilities for business in Switzerland. Therefore, above all, it provides the research and proof of suitable representatives and agencies in both countries. The cooperation of the offices of the Chamber in Tel Aviv is also of great significance. Through the years, it was seen that these services have been used particularly, although not exclusively, by small and mid-sized companies. Often, these companies are not in the position to make their own market research. One of the preconditions of our work is our good and reliable cooperation with the official Swiss and Israeli authorities, as well as trade associations, trade unions, and others.

The Chamber of Commerce regularly provides information about trade fairs and exhibitions in Israel, as well as about Israeli participation in exhibitions in Switzerland and other European countries. Together with the Swiss Office of Trade Promotion, the Chamber facilitates the participation of Swiss enterprises in international trade fairs in Israel. In cooperation with the Department of Trade and Commerce of the Israel Embassy in Bern and the Foreign Trade Institute in Israel, the Chamber of Commerce proposes and encourages the organization of trade exhibits of Israeli products and sales promotion, as well as activities for sale promotion. The Chamber of Commerce is involved with the organization of these kinds of activities.

The Chamber of Commerce organizes various types of meetings, especially to give their members and friends the opportunity to meet with and to get to know notables of the Swiss and Israeli business world. Through this, they get first-hand information about the general Israeli economic situation or about particular branches of industry. These types of meetings have presented the opportunity to meet with the Israel Minister of Trade and Commerce, as well as high-ranking officials of this Ministry, members of the Swiss Federal Department of Economics, the Governor of the Bank of Israel, the president of Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the General Directors of major Israeli banks, the President of the Israel Manufacturers Association, as well as CEO's of large Israeli companies. All these notables have served as guest speakers at our meetings. In addition, the Chamber of Commerce takes an active part in the preparation of activities based on economic themes for organizations with common interests.

The Chamber of Commerce operates an informative website which has replaced the previously distributed bulletin. The website gives information firstly about the activities of the Chamber of Commerce, then about trade relations between Switzerland and Israel, and, finally, it presents valuable information about the economic situation in Israel. Good relationships exist with the Swiss business media. The Chamber of Commerce took part, at the invitation of Swiss economic journalists, in a trip to Israel and, since then, maintains the close contact that resulted from this activity. The Chamber of Commerce pays special attention to the publication of supplementary material about the Israeli economy which appears in the Swiss press. The Chamber of Commerce is not subsidized by any state organization. The sources of funding for its activities are the contributions of its members and the proceeds from the services it provides.