History between India and Israel's Haifa city "inspiring", also holds a great "future ahead": Mayor
Mayor described the rich history between India and the coastal city as «inspiring», and ongoing collaborations between them as holding a great «future ahead».
Addressing a gathering of about two hundred people assembled to show respect to the Indian soldiers, Mayor Dr Einat Kalisch-Rotem said that he sees India as a very important partner in the big plans for the city of Haifa.
«The rich history between India and Haifa is inspiring and very significant for both of us. This is one of the strongest links (the story of the liberation of the city) between us, in the past, but also for our future,» Kalisch-Rotem said.
«We have a lot to do with the port of Haifa.
And we have big plans for the city of Haifa and I see India as a very important partner, and for that, I would say that it is not just the history but also the future ahead of us,» she stressed.
A consortium of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) and Israel's Gadot Group won the tender in July of 2022 to privatise the Port of Haifa for a staggering USD 1.18 billion.
It completed the process of purchase on January 11 this year, following which upgradation work has been going on in full swing at the port. The Indian partner in the consortium holds 70 per cent of the stake while its Israeli partner Gadot has 30 per cent.
The successful entry of the Adani Group into Israel through its acquisition of the Haifa port is being seen as a «strategic purchase».
It is probably the biggest foreign investment in this country in any sector in recent years.
A group of Bollywood producers visited Israel last year during Haifa Day and announced a movie, «The Heroes of Haifa», whose posters were also released during their visit.
The movie aims to bring the epic story of the
