Israeli exporters suffer anti-Israel boycotts (JPost)

*Exporters suffer anti-Israel boycotts*
Mar. 30, 2009
Sharon Wrobel , THE JERUSALEM POST

Local exporters are losing foreign markets and customers because of the
global economic crisis and a growing anti-Israel boycott of locally made
products following Operation Cast Lead, the Israel Manufacturers Association
said Sunday.

"In addition to the problems and difficulties arising from the global
economic crisis, 21 percent of local exporters report that they are facing
problems in selling Israeli goods because of an anti-Israel boycott, mainly
from the UK and Scandinavian countries," said Yair Rotloi, chairman of the
association's foreign-trade committee.

A survey conducted among 90 exporters from a variety of sectors found that
53% had lost foreign markets and customers as a result of the global
economic crisis. In addition, 62% said they were having trouble collecting
payments from foreign clients, while 49% said their customers have asked to
pay in installments.

Foreign customers had forced 66% of Israeli exporters to cut prices because
of the economic climate, the survey showed.

Twenty-nine percent of exporters reduced business travel abroad by more than
30%, 11% cut it 20%, 6.5% reduced it 10% and 43% reported no change.
Twenty-six percent of exporters said business visits by their foreign
customers had declined.
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