The Ministry of Finance's mission to the Asian region was established in 2015, operating alongside two other Ministry of Finance representative offices—one in the United States and another for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. This mission operates as part of the Israeli embassy in Beijing.
The Ministry of Finance's mission to the Asian region was established in 2015, operating alongside two other Ministry of Finance representative offices—one in the United States and another for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. This mission operates as part of the Israeli embassy in Beijing.
The representation focuses on a wide array of topics, including economics, finance, banking, and capital markets. Its goals encompass promoting cooperation between governments across various sectors, facilitating private sector collaborations, fostering partnerships with international organizations and foreign representations, attracting investments, and enhancing the involvement of Asian companies in diverse projects in Israel, including infrastructure and procurement.
The head of the financial department also serves as a board member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), an international multinational development bank established in 2016, with 109 member countries, total capital of around 100 billion USD, and a AAA credit rating.
The Ministry of Finance's representation in Asia has three main objectives:
- Developing and strengthening economic relations between Israel and Asian countries, creating opportunities to expand economic activity between them by bolstering ties with governments and financial institutions in the region, and promoting economic dialogues between finance ministries.
- Enhancing the operations of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and supporting the expansion of the scope and quality of its projects, including fostering collaboration between the bank and entities in Israel.
- Supporting Israeli government entities, private companies, and investors in their engagements across Asian countries. This support encompasses the establishment of a professional knowledge base, facilitating delegation visits, establishing networks with government bodies, financial institutions, and consulting firms, and publishing economic reviews and policy papers.