FAQ

Adani Port wins tender for Haifa Port, Israel's largest port

Tags: Economy/Finance International Relations

Adani Port, led by Gautam Adani, has won the tender for the privatization of Haifa Port, one of Israel's largest ports. Haifa is a major trading center located in the Mediterranean.

• This historic decision was taken by the Government of Israel at a time when the I2U2 summit was in progress in Israel. Israel gave this port to an Indian Adani port, not to the company of America, China, Japan, France.

• Israel has three main ports: Haifa Ports, Asdod Ports and Eilat Ports.

• Adani Port had bid for 4.2 billion shekels ($1.18 billion) to privatize Haifa Port.

• Adani Port had made this bid in collaboration with its Israel partner company Gadot.

• Adani Port holds 70 per cent stake in this partnership, while Gadot holds 30 per cent. Gadot has an Israeli chemical and logistics company.

• It has strategic and historical importance for both the countries (India and Israel).

• Confirming the privatization, Haifa Port Chairman Eshel Armoni said the new group would operate the port until 2054.

• For the privatization of this port, the government of Israel had invited bids from companies from all over the world.

• Adani Port faced stiff competition from another port in Haifa, which was launched by Chinese company Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) only last year.

Ban on China's increasing interference in Israel's ports:

• In the year 2019, China gave a small port of Israel (New Haifa Ports) to China for just $290 million. In the present deal, the Chinese company also made a lot of additions, but Adani Port got success in this.

Advantages of this port:

• This port is expected to create such a trade triangle between India, UAE and Israel, which is expected to generate trade of 110 to 120 billion dollars between these countries by 2030.

• Also Adani Ports aims to become the world's largest port operator by 2030; Which now seems very close to the truth.

Importance of Haifa City for both India-Israel:

• The Israeli city of Haifa was liberated by Indian soldiers from the Ottoman Empire in the year 1918 during World War I.

• Most war historians describe the liberation of Haifa from the rule of the Ottoman Empire as the last great equestrian campaign.

Indian Army celebrates Haifa Day on 23 September: 

• The Indian Army observes Haifa Day every year on 23 September to pay tribute to its three brave cavalry regiments Mysore, Hyderabad and Jodhpur Lancers.