Sunday, 1 April 2012

Yokneam

 Yokneam, is a city southeast of Haifa in northern Israel. It is located in a hilly region of the lower Galilee, bordered by Highway 70 and Mount Carmel. Yokneam Illit is at the base of the Carmel Mountains and overlooks the Jezreel Valley, 21 kilometres (13 mi) from Haifa and 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Tel Aviv. Yokneam Illit had a population of 18,600 at the end of 2007. The town has developed as a centre for high tech businesses, due to its proximity to the Technion in eastern Haifa.


Economy


Yokneam Illit is a "National Priority Area A" under the Israeli Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investment. Approved enterprises in Yokneam Illit enjoy the highest level of tax benefits and investment grants. In addition, companies relocating to the region can apply for concessions in local taxes over a three year period from the Yokneam Illit Local Authority.
Osem established a plant in Yokneam in 1974. Initially, the plant produced mainly pasta products, but the scope of activities broadened over the years. In 1997, the facility doubled in size and three production lines were installed for baked goods such as crackers, biscuits, cookies and pretzels. Bamba, a popular Israeli snack food, is also produced in Yokneam. Many Yokneam residents are employed at the plant, which won awards from the Council for a Beautiful Israel for its attractive premises.
Yokneam Illit has attracted many high-tech companies, among them Intel, Medtronic, Given Imaging, Naiot Venture Accelerator, Mellanox Technologies, Marvell, Soltam Systems, Biosense Webster, a Johnson & Johnson company, and Lumenis.

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