In a ceremony held in Vienna on January 16, 2007, Mr. Uriel Lynn, President of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, was awarded the “Grand Order of Merit in Gold” for services to the Austrian Israeli bilateral trade relations by Austrian Federal President Dr. Heinz Fischer. Dr. Martin Bartenstein, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs & Labor presented the decoration to Mr. Lynn and Mr.Christoph Leitl, President of the Federal Economic Chamber of Austria, said that the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce and especially the efforts of Mr. Uriel Lynn in the promotion of bilateral trade between Austria and Israel have contributed considerably to the rise in Austrian exports to Israel as well as Israeli exports to Austria by 15% in 2006. Uriel Lynn outlined the similar characteristics of the two markets pointing out the strengths of the Austrian economy and the Israeli economy and noted the outstanding contribution Austria had made in the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe.