Mofaz in port2port: A billion shekels will be invested in the Haifa and Ashdod Ports

Minister Mofaz pointed out that the logistics chain in the ports' infrastructure must be fully used to direct work around the clock
 
Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz promised that his ministry will invest about a billion shekels in the coming years in developing the Israeli ports at Haifa and Ashdod. According to the minister, the purpose is to turn Israel into a main gateway in the transportation of goods to the East. Israel's strategic location constitutes an economic bridge between the Mediterranean and the Arab countries. Minister Mofaz pointed out that the logistics chain in the ports' infrastructure must be fully used to direct work around the clock. He made his statements at the International Logistics and Transportation Port2Port 2008 conference and exhibition which was held at Airport City last week.
 
In a discussion on infrastructure at the ports, Shuki Sagis, CEO of the Ashdod Port, said that a rapid process of privatization of the port will solve all the important disputes that stand before the ports sector, and which are holding up the continued promotion of the reform.
 
Among others, the Director General of the Ministry of Transport, Gideon Siterman, Yossi Rozen, Chairman of the Refineries, and Uriel Lynn, President of the Union of Chambers of Commerce, participated in the panel. According to Lynn, the question of how to privatize the Ashdod Port must first of all be based on the guidelines of how we ensure real competition and how we protect the interests of the participants. “The problem is that even if there is open competition between Haifa and Ashdod, this still does not create real competition. Haifa is not always an alternative to Ashdod, and vice-versa. I believe that the best path will be to combine the interests of the users with the interests of ownership.  20% by the Union of Chambers of Commerce, 20% by the Industrialists Association, 20% by the Histadrut, and 40% by the State for a period of five years”.