Growth-Supportive measures

Expansion of Infrastructure Investments
Priority for public transport-including development of exclusive public-transport lanes

• Promotion of water and sewage companies
• Development of railroad infrastructure by the business sector
• Development of natural-gas infrastructure

Examples of Successful Structural Changes in Enhancing Competitiveness
Competition in cellular phone service

• Competition in overseas dialing
• "Open skies" in aviation
• Additional operator to Eilat

Structural Changes to Enhance Competitiveness
Communications services

• DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) television service
• Reduction of Israel Broadcasting Authority fee
• Transport services
• Promotion of competition in public transport
• Competition in charter flights
• Competition in regional air passenger routes
• Competition in inland aviation
• Privatization of the Haifa airport

Structural Changes to Enhance Competitiveness
Energy products and services

• Competition in petroleum refining
• Development of port for refined products
• Enhancement of competition in fuel retailing
• Electric system

Structural Changes to Enhance Competitiveness
Industrial products

• Toughening of regulation of monopolies
• Compulsory display of prices to consumer
• Competition in cement, seeds, and corresponding imports
• Changes in the field of standards
• Agricultural products
• Imports of hard cheeses
• Imports of out-of-season fruit

Elimination of Government Barriers
Patents Law

• Elimination of licensing in tourism
• Release of land for residential construction
• Shortening of procedures in approving residential building plans

Labor Market
Qualification criteria for unemployment compensation

• Restrictions on use of foreign workers
• Elimination of linkages in wage agreements

Growth-Supportive Capital Market
Long-term retirement savings

• Banking services

Investment in Infrastructure 1997-1998 (NIS million)