Greetings, friends!

At the end of the second day of the visit of the Ukrainian delegation in Israel we have already managed to meet with the experts in the field of finance, the Speaker of the Knesset, and yesterday we had a long and productive communication with the tax and customs control of Israel. We can say that it was an accelerated international course of experience exchange!

On April 4, the members of our delegation met with Uri Brook, a senior manager of tax administration of Israel and Sarah Beaton - the Head of the International Department of the Israeli Customs Administration. Before 2004, there were three tax units in Israel, which largely duplicated each other.

Realizing that the bloated apparatus of the tax service only hinders the process, the administration has been reduced to a single unit. As a result, a tax collection sharply increased and free staff were directed to new areas of work. So, in order to increase the collection of taxes in Israel they do not increase, but reduce the bureaucratic colossus.

In addition, Mr. Brook spoke in detail about how to work in Israel against the tax crimes, how to carry out the inspections in the companies, work with employers, etc. In general, there is a lot to learn.

Particularly, I will focus on the work of customs in Israel: according to the words of Ms. Beaton, 95% of all goods on the Israeli customs are reviewed for one hour. One hour! This occurs due to the usage of modern computer systems in the customs. It automatically analyzes the financial statements and helps the customs officers the best option behavior: whether to check the goods, or you can do a formal examination procedure. Such system works effectively because it takes into account every nuance of each client, the history of relations with him, the financial statements, etc. But you should note that in Israel seldom to whom will come to mind to give or accept a bribe for illegal trafficking: too long prison terms are threatening. Trafficking exists in Israel: every day the customs officers intercept weapons, drugs, cigarettes and tobacco.

Customs works very fast because almost all goods get customs clearance in advance, only 5% of goods are really testing to which there are any questions. The customs officials use special scanners in the work that test even very large container for a few minutes. There are also special "vacuum cleaners", which check the containers for weapons and explosives: the air takes the tests from the vacuum cleaner, and if it finds the slightest particle of explosive - the container is opened for inspection.

When an investor comes into the country, not only the tax and investment climate are very important in the region, but also the customs policy. A striking example - the company Intell, which invested $ 7 billion in the economy of Israel, because of the simplicity and transparency of the customs system of Israel, the company was able to bring quickly and easily the equipment to the country and start to work.

The final chord of the day was the visit to Ashdod where there is the largest commercial sea port in Israel. The Head of the customs control of the city, Rafi Gabay, said that the Israeli customs has very wide powers. In some moments more than the police. For example, according to the law only one person is free from customs inspections – it is the president. The customs has the right to check the goods even of any minister, including the Head of the government.

Later our delegation visited Ashdod City Hall: the Mayor, Yehiel Lasri, his deputy, Boris Giterman and a member of the City Council, who is responsible for education issues, Yehuda Frenkel, shared their experiences in the field of municipal management. The Ukrainian parliamentaries were told how the Israeli City Hall is organized, on what the municipality earns, what it manages, the challenges that are faced. In the process of decentralization, which Ukraine is helding, this experience is very useful.

P. S.: the Ukrainian parliamentaries passed the Mayor of the city Ashdod, Mr. Lasri, the map of the world from the children of Ukraine to the children of Israel in the framework of the action "Children are for peace all over the world".