Defense Minister to request Turkish workers to stay

A major tank upgrade program resulted from their employment.

Minister of Defense Ehud Barak will ask the government to approve the continued employment of 800 Turkish construction workers at next Sunday's cabinet meeting. Their employment is part of the defense collaboration between Israel and Turkey under which Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) and subcontractors are upgrading Turkish Army tanks in a $700 million deal.

IMI is making $200 million in reciprocal procurements from Turkey as part of the contract. IMI chairman Avner Raz and CEO Avi Felder recently visited Turkey to review progress in the tank upgrade project. The company is in talks to undertake similar projects with other governments.

The Ministry of Defense said that the cost of hiring the 800 Turkish construction workers for six year is NIS 6 million. Barak's request comes shortly after the Ministry of Finance announced that it would halt the employment of all foreign construction workers.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 21, 2008

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008

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