The government will ban the importation of all luxury goods which can be manufactured in Israel, Dov Joseph, Minister for Supply and Rationing, yesterday declared at the opening of the taxtile industry’s winter utility clothing fashion show. Mr. Joseph also revealed that 85-90 percent of all winter clothing that will be sold in Israel this coming season will be of local manufacture.
A plea for the government to ban all products which can be manufactured in Israel was made by Dr. L. Justitz, secretary of the Manufacturers Association. Dr. Justitz declared that Israel has about 100 textile plants which can employ 10,000 persons, but are only giving work to 1,500. He attributed this development to what he called the dumping of imported products on the local market. He also pointed out that the producers cut the cost of summer clothing this year by 40-50 percent and predicted similar cuts in the price of winter clothes.
At a press conference earlier in the day, Minister Joseph revealed that a government mission will soon tour various countries in an effort to promote a flow of capital to Israel through the importation by Israel of raw materials which need not be paid for in hard currency or which can be obtained through long-term credits. Reviewing the progress of Israeli industry, the Minister pointed out that locally manufactured iceboxes are being sold in Greece, Cyprus and Turkey and that one chocolate manufacturer has a $250,000 order on hand.
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