Israel - India Business Guide | 2025

Haifa Port gears up to become the region’s leading hub – under the ownership of Adani Ports H aifa Port, the most significant maritime gateway in Israel, has undergone a remarkable transformation since its acquisition in January 2023 by India’s Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd and the Israeli Gadot Group. Adani Ports, a global giant in port operations, and Gadot, an international leader inmaritime logistics, bring a wealth of expertise and strategic vision to the partnership. Despite facing unprecedented challenges, including the war that erupted on October 7 th, 2023 , Haifa Port remains at the heart of ambitious international initiatives like the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor). This project, led by the U.S. and Indian governments in collaboration with Saudi Arabia, Israel, the UAE, and European nations, underscores the port’s critical role as a global trade nexus. Dr. Ron Malka, with his distinguished career as Israel’s Ambassador to India, Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Economy, and now as Chairman of Haifa Port, shared his insights on the port’s recent milestones and strategic plans. How would you summarize two years of Haifa Port under the ownership of Adani and Gadot? Dr. Ron Malka: “Taking over Israel’s most strategically Two years after the privatization of Israel’s leading maritime gateway, with 70% now owned by Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, Dr. Ron Malka, Chairman of the Board and former Ambassador to India, reflects on the challenges, triumphs, and the port’s promising future located maritime hub, was both a responsibility and an opportunity. For our owners, Adani and Gadot, this was a strategic decision, in order to enhance and expand the port’s capabilities. Established by the British in the 1930 s, the port carries a historical legacy dating back to the heroic Battle of Haifa inWorldWar I, in which Indian cavalry forces played a pivotal role. Today, we aim to further this legacy by transforming Haifa Port into a central hub for bothmaritime and land-based trade. With Gautam Adani’s visionary leadership and Adani Ports' proven expertise inmodernizing ports across India, we are well-positioned to make Haifa Port a cornerstone of global trade." What state was Haifa Port in when you assumed leadership, and did it meet your expectations? “We inherited a professional and versatile port capable of handling a wide range of cargo – containers, bulk, general cargo, and Ro-Ro shipments. The workforce is highly skilled and dependable. However, we operate in an increasingly competitive environment, with new container terminals in Haifa and Ashdod intensifying the race. While Haifa Port is renowned for providing the best service in Israel, we face challenges related to labor costs, which impact our competitiveness. Addressing these requires Dr. Ron Malka Israel-India > Business Guide > 2025 20 > Opening Pages > Haifa Port