"The metro will be a game changer for the Israeli economy"

During a panel at the National Economic Conference, Yodfat Afek Arazi, chairwoman of NTA, emphasized that the metro project is crucial for Israel's economic future, stating, "The metro will be a game changer for the Israeli economy." She highlighted its role in boosting employment, technology, and real estate by expanding building rights and shortening travel times, thereby increasing the available workforce. Other panelists discussed challenges and opportunities in national infrastructure.

• Daniel Sofer, Deputy CEO of Mekorot, detailed significant investments in water infrastructure, with development plans increasing from NIS 600-700 million in 2019 to an estimated NIS 2 billion annually by the end of the decade, to meet growing demand for the next 40-50 years.
• Nitzan Sandor from Bank Leumi noted that the multiplicity of planning authorities and unforeseen events like the pandemic and war create legal and contractual complexities, delaying projects despite excellent plans.
• Erez Balasha of Generation Capital praised Israel's transparent tenders and risk-sharing but cited execution as the main challenge due to competing interests, political involvement, and bureaucracy, leading to shortages in various infrastructure fields.
• Shaul Schneider, Chairman of Ashdod Port, affirmed its critical role, with 40% of Israel's goods passing through it, and detailed over NIS 1 billion in investments over three years to ensure efficiency and security, despite regulatory burdens and unfair competition from government companies.