India And Israel: Israel’s handing over of the strategic port of Haifa to the Adani Group is a reflection of the country’s trust in India, Israeli Ambassador Naor Gilon said on Wednesday, over three weeks after the Indian company acquired the port.

He said the Indian companies with whom Israeli firms have forged joint ventures included the Tata Group, Kalyani Group, Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL).

To a question on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of the Adani Group being favoured in India-Israel defence contracts, the envoy said at a media briefing that Israeli companies have around 80 joint ventures with Indian companies and suggested that the defence ties are not about only one firm.

Port of Haifa is the second largest port in Israel

The Port of Haifa is the second largest port in Israel in terms of shipping containers and the biggest in shipping tourist cruise ships.

On the Adani Group acquiring the Haifa port last month, Gilon said it was a sign of Israel’s trust in India and it could boost bilateral trade. It was a very important move from our side as Haifa is a strategic port, he said.

Describing defence ties between the two countries as very strong, he said Israel has the advantage to support India in its efforts to become self-reliant in defence manufacturing because of the “long-standing” trust in the area between the two countries.

The Adani Group last month acquired the strategic port of Haifa for USD 1.2 billion (one billion =100 crore) and vowed to transform the skyline of this Mediterranean city as part of its decision to invest more in the Jewish nation.

In his remarks, the Israeli envoy also said that there is a great potential to expand cooperation in areas of renewable energy, smart mobility, agriculture, healthcare, water and cyber and homeland security.

Sources PTI