PRIVATISED ISRAELI PORTS FIRST ANNIVERSARY

Informed sources indicate that a major roadblock is the issue of Hutchison Port Holdings getting security clearance to bid for the project. The Cabinet Committee on Internal Security, which met in March to decide on the issue, referred the matter to the National Security Council who, in turn, requested an extension of the bid process to a date in May. Now, further delays in the bid process are anticipated while the security issue, and therefore Hutchison’s potential involvement in the project, continues to be mulled over.

Amos Ron, the outgoing CEO of Israel Ports, noted at a recent conference marking the first anniversary of the liberalisation of ports in Israel that reform remains incomplete. He predicted that over the next 50 years, at least two major competing companies would be operating in every port. In addition, he said that a third port needs to be developed on the country’s Mediterranean coast, while the port of Eilat should be expanded northwards.