Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1935-08-01 · 8.1935 · p. Seite 375

D.—REPORT OF THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT. 1. Trade and industry in Palestine have advanced greatly in the two years since the 18th Congress. While in 1933 there were in Palestine 3,386 factories and workships, employing 19,510 persons (of whom over 14,000 were workmen), and the capital invested in them amounted to <£P. 5,270,000, in 1934 the number of industrial undertakings amounted to about 4,000, employing approximately 25,000 persons (18,600 workers), and the invested capital amounted to £P. 6,500,000. The industrial production in 1933 was estimated at £P. 5,400,000, and that in 1934 at £P. 6,500,000. Further proof of industrial progress lies in the increased use of electricity for industrial purposes (6,575,000 Kilowatt-hours in 1933 and 12,457,000 Kilowatt-hours in 1934) and in the increased import of machinery (£P. 466,000 in 1933 and £P. 950,000 in 1934). Accurate industrial figures for the first half of 1935 are not yet available, but it is obvious that the investments in industrial undertakings, both relatively and absolutely, increased considerably : great industrial enterprises are in the process of completion, the import of industrial machinery increased in the first quarter of 1935 by 80 per cent, compared with that of the first quarter of 1934, and finally the volume of raw material imported from abroad has also increased. About 60 per cent, of the enterprises are in Tel-Aviv and environs, 30 per cent, in Haifa and 10 per cent, in Jerusalem. Among the larger factories recently erected mention may be made of the foundry in Haifa managed by Mr. Kraminer, in which a capital sum of £P. 75,000 was invested. This factory employs 160 workmen, and plants for its extension are on foot. In Kfar Atta a weaving factory is in process of erection by the brothers Mollar from Czecho-Slovakia. A plate-glass factory, " Phoenicia," has been constructed in. Haifa, with a capital of £P. 43,000; a furniture factory, " Tyrza," has been erected in Rishon-le-Zion; three more silicate factories have been established; preparations have been made to build another large factory for cement and one for electric cables. In general the articles produced in Palestine itself have increased in number in recent years : enamelled baths, pipes, sanitary apparatus, files, taps, electric armatures, steel articles, printing formes, carbon paper, medicines, perfumes, glass, buttons, silks, etc. Special mention should be made of the beginning of a Jewish mercantile marine. The beginning is on a very small scale, but most of the personnel are Jewish and there are prospects of further development. Almost the whole production of Palestine industries goes to the home market. In 1933 manufactured goods to the value of £P. 313,000 were exported abroad, representing 5.8 per cent, of the total industrial production of the country, and in 1934 manu- 375