The Port of Haifa is Israel’s second largest port in terms of shipping containers and the largest in terms of shipping tourist cruise ships.
The Adani Group purchased the important Israeli port of Haifa for USD 1.2 billion on Tuesday, vowing to reshape the skyline of this Mediterranean city as part of its intention to invest more in Israel, including the establishment of an artificial intelligence centre in Tel Aviv.
Gautam Adani, the head of Adani Group, whose corporate empire has been shaken by claims of fraud by US short seller Hindenburg Research, stood beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the signing of the contract to take over Haifa Port and spoke about investment potential.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said :
Prime Minister Netanyahu described the Haifa port deal with the Adani Group as an “enormous milestone”, saying it will significantly improve connectivity between the two countries in many ways.
The Port of Haifa is the second largest port in Israel in terms of shipping containers and the biggest in shipping tourist cruise ships.
“I think this is an enormous milestone…Over 100 years ago, and during World World I, it was the brave Indian soldiers who helped liberate the city of Haifa. And today, it’s very robust Indian investors who are helping to liberate the port of Haifa,” Netanyahu said.
The Prime Minister stated that he addressed the aim of “having connection between our nations in various ways, transit lines, aviation routes, and sea routes…and it’s happening today” with his “good buddy” Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. He stated that what is occurring now is significant because “we realise there is a big boost for peace.” According to Netanyahu, the region will become an entrance and departure point for a large quantity of commodities that will travel straight to the Mediterranean and Europe without passing via three choke points.