Antitrust Director General Prof. David Gilo intends to declare the Haifa Port Company Ltd. and the Ashdod Port Company Ltd. an oligopoly in the port services industry.

Gilo said, “The port companies will be prohibited from operating the planned new terminals to be built adjacent to the existing ports.” So long as the new terminals are not operational, any extension of the docks in the existing ports will be contingent upon the Director General’s approval.”

The directive also bans measures that could disrupt or make it difficult for companies entering the market or operating a new terminal, or engaging in building work. Because of this, the Director General intends to instruct the port companies to allow new operators to use the ports’ shared infrastructure, and to prohibit the existing ports from refusing to provide the services required by new operators to function.

The directive was issued today, following the ports’ hearings that took place over the past few months. Gilo announced in May that he was considering declaring the ports an oligopoly.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 7, 2013

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