Canadian-Israeli Group and Nadav Layla to Invest $375 Million in Ashkelon Chip Park
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Canadian-Israeli investment group Awz and Nadav B. Logistics have agreed to invest approximately 1.5 billion shekels in a new deep-tech park in Ashkelon. The project includes land acquisition and the construction of advanced industrial facilities and chip manufacturing plants. Awz, which has strategic investments in Israel following the October 7th events, is led by Yaron Ashkenazi and includes prominent former security officials. Nadav Layla's company will manage the construction, while Awz will establish the chip factories focusing on advanced technologies.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Awz Group and Nadav Layla will invest 1.5 billion shekels in a new deep-tech park in Ashkelon.
- The investment covers land acquisition and the construction of advanced industrial and chip manufacturing facilities.
- The park will focus on compound semiconductors for AI, quantum computing, and defense applications.
- Awz Group is a Canadian-Israeli firm with significant investments in Israeli national infrastructure.
- The project includes plans for a research institute and professional training center.
- Nadav Layla's company will manage construction, while Awz will establish the chip factories.
The Canadian-Israeli investment group Awz and Nadav B. Logistics, owned by Nadav Layla, have signed a strategic investment agreement to establish a new national deep-tech park in Ashkelon. Nadav Layla will invest approximately 1.5 billion shekels (about $375 million) in acquiring land and constructing advanced industrial facilities for the park. This includes the purchase of 67 dunams (16.5 acres) of land from the Israel Land Authority for around 400 million shekels, with plans to build approximately 70,000 square meters of industrial and logistics space, some underground, costing an additional 1.1 billion shekels. The agreement also allows for expansion, potentially increasing the land area to 113 dunams and built space to 120,000 square meters. Detailed planning is expected to begin soon, with construction slated to start within two years.
Under the partnership, Layla will handle land acquisition and construction, while Awz's chip company, in collaboration with global partners, will establish several chip manufacturing plants (FABs). These facilities will initially focus on compound semiconductor technologies for communication and photonics, serving defense and civilian applications, including components for artificial intelligence infrastructure, quantum computing, and space and defense sectors. A research institute for deep-tech and professional training is also planned for the adjacent area, in cooperation with industry and academic institutions.
Awz Group, a Canadian-Israeli venture capital and investment firm specializing in cyber, AI, and defense startups, manages over 1.5 billion shekels in venture capital. Following the events of October 7, Awz made a strategic decision to invest approximately 5 billion shekels in critical national infrastructure projects in Israel, starting with Ashkelon, through its infrastructure arm, Awz Infrastructure. The group was founded and is managed by Canadian-Israeli businessman Yaron Ashkenazi and includes former senior officials from Israeli, Canadian, and U.S. security and intelligence agencies, such as former IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, former Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich, and former Mossad Director Tamir Pardo, as well as former Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Jacob Frenkel and former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Nadav B. Logistics, led by entrepreneur Nadav Layla, focuses on identifying, acquiring, planning, constructing, and managing industrial, logistics, and commercial projects. The company has recently expanded into energy, infrastructure, and the development of server farms.