- Title: India's Adani says to keep investing in Israel after Haifa port takeover
- Date: 31st January 2023
- Summary: HAIFA, ISRAEL (JANUARY 31, 2023) (REUTERS) INDIAN BILLIONAIRE, GAUTAM ADANI, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AND TRANSPORTATION MINISTER, MIRI REGEV, ARRIVING AT OWNERSHIP HANDOVER CEREMONY ADANI, NETANYAHU AND REGEV POSING FOR PHOTO CROWD, GUESTS TAKING PHOTOS NETANYAHU SIGNING GUEST BOOK/ ADANI AND REGEV JOINING NETANYAHU ADANI SIGNING GUEST BOOK/ REGEV SIGNIN
- Embargoed: 14th February 2023 15:14
- Keywords: Adani Ports Gautam Adani Haif Port India Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu magnate
- Location: HAIFA, ISRAEL
- City: HAIFA, ISRAEL
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Economic Events,Middle East
- Reuters ID: LVA003639531012023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Indian magnate Gautam Adani said on Tuesday (Janaury 31) he would keep investing in Israel after his group took over one of the country's main ports.
The entrance of Adani has spurred Israel's leaders to revive hopes of creating a trade gateway connecting the Mediterranean port of Haifa and the broader Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, which does not have ties with Israel.
Adani spoke at a ceremony in Haifa welcoming Adani Ports and local chemicals and logistics group Gadot - the partners who purchased the port for 4 billion shekels ($1.15 billion).
The Indian billionaire did not speak about his group's recent share sale or a scathing short-seller's report that has pummeled his stocks.
"We will transform the entire port landscape," Adani said. "Our intention is to make the right set of investments that will not just make the Adani-Gadot partnership proud, but will make the whole of Israel proud."
Adani joins China's Shanghai International Port Group, which opened in 2021 new piers across the bay in Haifa. The entry of major operators from Asia promises to boost Israel's standing as a regional trade hub.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the ceremony he was working to leverage the investments in Haifa to establish a trade route connecting the Mediterranean and the Gulf, bypassing the Suez Canal.
The idea has been tossed around for years but Israel hopes it became more realistic after normalising ties with a number of Arab countries in the U.S.-sponsored Abraham Accords.
"We are talking to our Arab neighbours, after the historical Abraham Accords, about connecting the rail links of Saudi Arabia through Jordan to Haifa port," Netanyahu said.
(Rami Amichay, Ilan Rosenberg, Lee Marzel) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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