Knesset Economic Committee discussed port issues

Likud MK Moshe Kahlon, the committee chair, said privatization and the tariff system at the ports will be reevaluated in the near future
 
The Knesset Economic Affairs Committee chaired by Likud MK Moshe Kahlon discussed last Tuesday the issue of improving Israel's ports infrastructure and reaffirmed the government's commitment to privatizing the ports.
 
The Chamber of Shipping of Israel, an association representing maritime shipping entities operating in Israel, and playing an important role in the maritime transport, trade and tourism industries, asked the committee to expand the Ashdod and Haifa ports and fulfill a government promise to start privatizing the ports.
 
Reuven Zuck, president of the Chamber of Shipping of Israel, told the committee that last year, importers and exporters lost more than NIS 110 million due to port delays. In 2007, containerships had to wait 70 hours on average before there was room at the docks, up from 35 hours in 2006.
 
“We have no practical alternative to the Israeli ports," said Zuck. "We need to develop the ports and the infrastructure, just like the roads and railways." 
 
In addition to privatization, the Chamber of Shipping raised government's transition to a new port tariff system, which the chamber said won't help the Israeli economy. Likud MK Moshe Kahlon, the committee chair, said privatization and the tariff system at the ports will be reevaluated in the near future.
 
Zuck said that the new tariff proposal makes imported produce pays six times more to the port than before