Feller: northern business community request the expansion of the Haifa port

In its 85th anniversary conference Feller noted that NIS 800 million were made available by Israel's ports and assets company for the development of both the Haifa port and Ashdod port
 
The Chamber of Commerce for Haifa and the north held last week its 85th anniversary conference with the presence of Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav and with the participation of 1,200 chamber members & guests.
 
Oded Feller, the president of the Chamber of Commerce for Haifa and the north, asked Mr. Olmert to pledge support for an investment of large development projects at the port of Haifa which will boost not only the port but also the port hinterland. Feller noted that NIS 800 million were made available by Israel's ports and assets company for the development of both the Haifa port and Ashdod port and asked the PM to ensure that large proportion of the investment budget would be directed to the northern port.
 
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced that the ministerial committee for strengthening Haifa and the North which was set up after the second war in Lebanon had decided to grant Haifa Area A status for tourism until 2011, and Area B status for high-tech companies until 2010.
 
Haifa will also receive NIS 165 million mainly for the rehabilitation of commercial areas.

The state will provide NIS 40 million for the rehabilitation of industrial areas in Haifa, the Checkpost area, and the Checkpost Northern Industrial Park, while Haifa will invest an additional NIS 50 million. The chief scientist of the Matam technology center will also receive NIS 33 million to develop a technology business incubator in Haifa.