industry” in the creation of the State of Israel. Nowadays, the Manufacturers’ Association of Israel’s main objectives are to continue developing industry in Israel, protecting and promoting the interest of manufacturers who are members of the MAI, and positioning the MAI as an innovative organization that initiates change, takes the lead on issues affecting the private sector, and influences the economy and society in the State of Israel. Divisions Economics: The Economics Division coordinates the association’s major economic activities, and is responsible for formulating the association’s macro-economic and micro-economic agenda. On top of that the division provides counseling, research and representation services for MAI Members in related topics. Labor: The division is responsible for representing employers in labor relations aspects, with respect to decisions made in the MAI Labor Committee. It conducts collective bargaining over labor legislation and agreements, and advocates for improved local curricula of vocational training. The division employs experts in the fields of labor relations, labor law, human resources, training, productivity, safety and welfare. Foreign Trade & International Relations: The Division of Foreign Trade & International Relations supports MAI activity with a focus on economic foreign policy, International cooperation and trade. The division advocates the interests of the local industry in terms of foreign trade policy, while promoting international collaborations and the principles of free trade. The division is in charge of representing industry and business positions in Intergovernmental and International Organizations. Finance: The Finance & Administration Division is responsible for the association's financial and reporting systems. It provides professional services to MAI Associations, and ancillary Sub-Associations. The division's operations are directed and supervised by the association's Finance Committee, composed of public officials. Communications: The Communications Division coordinates PR and relations with the media, is responsible for the association’s publications and provides information to members about in-house activities. Sub-Associations Metal, Electrical & Infrastructure Industries: The 500 Association members include large companies that manufacture and export a variety of products and employ thousands of workers, and also family enterprises that produce solely for the local market.The metal and electrical industries produce approximately 25% of the local industrial production (approximately NIS 70 billion in 2010), export approximately 24% of the industrial export (approximately $10 billion in 2010) and employ approximately 26% of the workforce (approximately 90,000 employees). Building Materials & Consumer Goods Industries: The association comprises 13 different industrial branches and about 350 of members of the following: construction