Haifa Port President: Israel Can Handle 1 Million Times More Cargo
The president of Haifa Port, Captain Sumit Chauhan, believes Israel is missing a significant opportunity to leverage its strategic location for global trade, especially in light of recent maritime security challenges. Chauhan, appointed in November 2024 by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, stated that while global instability, including Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz, has disrupted international trade, it also highlights the potential for alternative routes.
He expressed disappointment with the lack of national development for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), suggesting that Israel could handle "a million times more cargo" if the infrastructure were in place. Chauhan noted that the physical trade route for IMEC already exists, with containers moving from India to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and then to Israel, but the current capacity, particularly at the Jordan River crossing, is insufficient for large-scale operations. He emphasized that Israel's small size allows for quicker adaptation and that the country should capitalize on its geographical advantage by facilitating trade flows, similar to successful models in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai.
Chauhan, who has extensive experience in the Middle East maritime industry, also discussed the broader geopolitical impact on trade, stating that international commerce will not return to its previous state due to persistent instability. He highlighted the critical role of ports and the need for transformation within Haifa Port itself to become a fully private entity, moving beyond existing contracts and organizational culture. Adani Group, which controls 70% of Haifa Port, aims to significantly increase its global cargo handling capacity, and Chauhan sees Israel as a potential hub that can benefit from Adani's expertise in infrastructure development and rapid expansion.
He advocated for the establishment of free trade zones around ports like Haifa, citing the success of Jebel Ali in Dubai and Mundra Port in India. These zones, he explained, attract international businesses, stimulate local economies, create jobs, and add value to trade flows. Chauhan believes that by creating such an ecosystem, Israel could achieve significant economic prosperity, transforming its role in global commerce.
