A New Year’s greeting for the Israeli economy

I would like to offer the Israeli economy at large a few good wishes, which, I believe, would bring good fortune for all of us.

By YAIR SEROUSSI
Yair Seroussi, Bank Hapoalim370 (photo credit: Bank Hapoalim, Courtesy)
Yair Seroussi, Bank Hapoalim370
(photo credit: Bank Hapoalim, Courtesy)
As we welcome the New Year, it is customary to wish our friends and family well and express our hopes that in the coming year we all overcome our weaknesses, exert ourselves and achieve new goals as well as old ones. It is our modern way of taking advantage of earth’s cyclical rhythm and opening a clean new slate.
In this spirit, I would like to offer the Israeli economy at large a few good wishes, which, I believe, would bring good fortune for all of us.
Let us start by wishing our economy growth and expansion to its full potential; that is, a brisk GDP growth of about 5 percent annually, as befits a young, vibrant economy. Let us hope that the building blocks of our growth would consist of a highly educated workforce enjoying full employment, utilizing advanced infrastructure to successfully compete at home and abroad.
Let us wish that our economy maintains and improves its capacity to innovate, to create successful start-ups and come up with inventive solutions.
Let us wish that we could expand our exports to the four corners of the world, strengthening our economic position among the nations.
Let us wish our economy the leverage of a well-balanced government budget, serving as an engine for entrepreneurship and also caring for our health, education and well-being.
Let us wish our economy some respite from the high cost of housing. That would surely drive more working capital into the economy, as well as our household fortunes.
Let us wish our economy spreads its wings further into the periphery, creating stronger and happier communities in the Negev and the Galilee.
Let us hope our economy becomes a commercial bridge between the East and the West, bringing to bear our unique qualities as a young, fast-growing developed market.
Let us wish our economy strengthens its warm ties with our Diaspora brethren so that we get to build stronger relationships built on a shared past and a prosperous future.
Last, but not least, let us wish ourselves that we become a more open, tolerant society capable of equally sharing the fruits of our growth and prosperity.