Israel Japan | Business Guide | 2018

055 and environments. With leading players in the vehicle protection segment and state- of-the-art solutions for airport and seaport security,Israel stands among the world leaders in this crucial market. An estimated 600 Israeli companies are active in the security sector,broken down as follows: 35% in Technologies,35% in Products,20% in IT & Software,10% in Services.Approximately 350 Israeli security companies export their products worldwide. Global Presence Israeli companies are involved in security projects worldwide,as prime contractors or partners. Israeli security services and technologies were involved in securingmajor sports,entertainment, and mega-public events globally including the Olympic Games in Atlanta and Athens, African Cup of Nations and the Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro.Israeli security systems protect some of the major symbols of western civilization,including Buckingham Palace,the Vatican and Eiffel Tower.These systems also secure the largest aviation hubs and seaports in the world, including JFK (New York City), Heathrow (London),and Changi (Singapore) Airports.Furthermore,Israeli trainers support some of the finest police and counter-terror units around the globe. Defense & HLS in Japan The Japanese defense system is based mostly on self-sufficiency.Most of its military arsenal is locally made.The reasons are both political and economic.All major companies in Japan deal partly with military equipment and are grantedmulti-billion dollar contracts every year. The import of security equipment is subject to approval by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There has been a slow and gradual change in the Japanese attitude regarding the subjects of defense and HLS over the past two years,and this is based on the following factors: 1. Aggravated relations and security concerns with China. 2. The threat fromNorth Korea even though it is of relatively limited concern due to America’s defense ‘umbrella’ proffered to Japan. 3. Cyber-attacks on Japan’s public administration and industry. 4. The wish to assist the military industry by removal of politically-motivated export limitations. 5. Following the Fukushima incident there has been interest generated regarding HLS subjects, but the scope of interest in products from abroad is limited, as is explained above. Although political relations between Israel and Japan are good, Israel looks at Japan mainly from a civilian economic angle.Defense related cooperation is relatively limited and this is based on Japanese political limitations as well as a difficulty by Israelis to adapt to the Japanese way of doing business. Sources: Israel Export Institute, Invest in Israel, Harvard International Review, www.i-hls.com. 2000: An agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Israel on Air Services was signed. Historical Moments