Israeli security firms signed export contracts worth 2.352 billion dollars in 2000, a 10 percent increase on the total for 1999, reported Haaretz newspaper, quoting a statement by the defense ministry's export aid branch (Sibat).
"Barring dramatic developments in the region, similar figures will be quoted for 2001," the statement said.
Most of the exports were headed for Asia, with Turkey and India topping the list, said the statement.
Apparently, said Haaretz, security-related exports were not curbed even though the sale of Falcon early-warning plane to China fell through, as did the deal to sell Turkey an intelligence satellite.
Israel also lost the tender to develop and manufacture 700 million dollars of sea-to-sea missiles for Singapore, the paper added.
According to Sibat's figures, exports of this magnitude will allow the leading local manufacturers, Rafael Armament Development Authority (RADA), the Israel Military Industries (IMI) and Elbit Systems, to maintain their current levels of activity.
Former defense ministry director-general, Major General Amos Yaron, told the paper that "the Intifada did not lead to the cancellation of arms deals, although delays did occur because foreign delegations were instructed by their governments to refrain from visiting Israel and the region."
The defense ministry, meanwhile, said that it will upgrade IMI's services through the intensive training of the company's staff.
IMI became a government owned corporation in 1990.
With over 60 percent of its production destined for world markets, IMI introduces itself as a recognized supplier to armed forces, law enforcement and security agencies and defense manufacturers on five continents -- Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
