The National Security Council fears the participation of the Turkish company "Yilport" in the tender • On the other hand, the Government Companies Authority considers them worthy candidates • Transport Minister Kraismailoulo in a letter to Miri Regev: "Has a large trading volume and extensive experience in operating ports" •
Port of Haifa
Photo:
Moshe Shai
It does not happen every day in recent years that a Turkish minister appeals to his Israeli counterpart.
However, Israel Today has learned that before the election, Turkish Transport Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu wrote a letter to his Israeli counterpart Miri Regev demanding that the Turkish company YILPORT be given a fair opportunity to participate in the tender to privatize the port of Haifa.
When it is already known that the Gulf port will be operated by the Chinese SIPG for 25 years, the issue arises as to who will be the operators of the privatized Haifa port intended to give competition to the Chinese - with the beneficiaries being the companies that will benefit from the competition and consumers.
The private company Yilport is interested in participating in the tender, in collaboration with the British Global Ports, and the American GraeStone, with the rivals standing in front of them: the state-owned public company DP World in collaboration with Israel Shipyards, and other groups, such as Adani Ports "(Adani Ports) Indian in partnership with Gadot Chemicals, and two other American companies that deal separately with Israeli partners.
"History, Erdogan can not erase" / Photo: Democracy Foundation (FDD)
Yilport is a company whose professional background has no cause for concern.
It operates four ports in Turkey, three in Scandinavia, nine in the Iberian Peninsula, two in South America, one in Italy and one in Malta.
Beyond that, behind it stands an owner who is a Turkish tycoon, Yüksel Yıldırım, who among other things is the owner of the Samsonspor football team that is fighting for promotion to the top league in Turkey.
Still, those facing their candidacies are the National Security Council, which, for security reasons, sees Yilport's candidacy as problematic. On the other hand, the Government Companies Authority's Tenders Committee, which believes in the economic aspect, sees Bailport as a worthy candidate. The tenders are a recommending level, but not a deciding level - and in this case those who will make the decision are Transport Minister Miri Regev and Digital Minister Dudi Amsalem.
Unless, by the summer months, the date of the announcement of the winner, a new government is sworn in to have new political figures who will determine the fate of the tender.
Following fears that Yilport would not be able to participate in the sale process, Turkish Minister Kraismailau addressed his counterpart Regev in an official letter.
"I was happy to hear that you are listing the port of Haifa," the Turkish minister wrote to her, "I believe that in this way the port of Haifa will become one of the most important stations in the field of trade and passenger transportation in the Mediterranean."
Turkish Transport Minister Adil Kraismailau / Photo: EP
"I would like to draw your attention to the following issues in the first evaluation phase of the Tender Committee," Kraismailau continued.
"As a company that operates ports, most of which are located in NATO member countries, with all the implications, and a company participating in a tender to operate a port in the United States, Yilport was asked by senior Israeli government officials to participate in the tender. We have no doubt that the company has all the capabilities to meet In the requirements of the tender. "
He said, "Following the information that Chinese and Emirates companies have approved for the Haifa Port tender and given the fact that Turkish companies have been conducting business in Israel for many years in various fields such as airport operations, electricity generation and water sweetening - we believe the assessment regarding the consortium led by Yilport (a Turkish company My discipline in operating the ports of goods) and having a large volume of trade and vast experience in operating international ports, will be completed in the most efficient manner. "
Minister Kraismailau concluded that "our bilateral trade relations, which will deepen even more with such cooperation, will serve the world, our countries and the region. I hope the assessment will be completed as soon as possible."
At the same time, the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv approached the Foreign Ministry, with the aim of recognizing the issue as well.
Transport Minister Miri Regev / Photo: Yossi Zeliger
However, in the shadow of the past elections, Ankara has not yet received a response from Minister Regev to their request.
The issue of the tender for the privatization of Haifa Port and the participation of Yilport is expected to have a significant impact on the process of warming relations between Israel and Turkey, since last week Israel Today published the message from Ankara to Jerusalem that if they receive a commitment to send an ambassador to Turkey. in Tel Aviv.
"Authority consults with relevant government officials"
The National Digital Ministry responded: "The Government Companies Authority, which is under the responsibility of Minister Dudi Amsalem, is leading the sale process of the Haifa Port Company to a strategic buyer. The sale process requires various approvals for participants in competitive and political-security aspects. The authority integrates the issue. The relevant government, in coordination with the National Digital Minister Dudi Amsalem and the Minister of Transport Miri Regev, who have the authority at the end of the sale process, after selecting the authority's preferred bidder, to approve the state's vital interests in Haifa Port Company. "Minister Amsalem or the PA cannot pass on information about this or that candidate in the media."
The Ministry of Transportation's response has not yet been received.
