Businessman Nochi Dankner, the former controlling shareholder in IDB, is considering a partnership with Chinese multinational China Harbour, which won a tender to construct the South Port in Ashdod. Sources inform "Globes" that the parties are conducting a dialogue through intermediaries, in which the possibility that Dankner will provide consultant services to the Chinese company is under consideration. The planned private port project is designed to compete with Ashdod Port.
The port construction project is estimated at NIS 3.3 billion. The Israel Ports Company recently selected China Harbour's bid for construction of the port, which was substantially cheaper than the bids submitted by the Shafir Civil and Marine Engineering and Ashtrom Properties consortium and the Shikun U'Binui and Ludreco consortium.
Sources involved in the dialogue between Dankner and the China Harbour executives declined to say how the negotiations were going. Nevertheless, "Globes" has learned that the Chinese company believes that Dankner can enable it to sidestep bureaucratic barriers with Israeli local authorities "with the help of his widespread connections and profound familiarity with the Israeli economy," a source familiar with the particulars said. "The Chinese came to him with an offer of a lucrative 'come, work with us' contract," the source added. "Nochi knows how to pull the right strings, and that's what the Chinese need here right now. It's no secret that Dankner is friendly with Chinese executives, due among other things to the sale of Makhteshim-Agan to ChemChina."
If the dialogue is successful and Dankner becomes a consultant for China Harbor, he intends to bring a helper with him: Gamliel "Guma" Hasin, a suspended worker at Ashdod Port formerly described as the strong man of the port and a crony of former MK Omri Sharon. A month ago, Hasin was convicted in a plea bargain of concealing NIS 2.7 million in income from the tax authorities. He was accused of receiving money from Mifal Hapayis lottery marketers in 2007-2009 for the consultancy services he gave them without reporting the income. Following his indictment, he was suspended a year ago from his position as a "marketing project manager." Hasin's position was previously defined as manager of a museum in Ashdod Port but there was no museum there at the time.
Hasim told "Globes" today in response, "It's true that Nochi Dankner and I are friends. I refuse to comment about the other matters." Dankner also refused to comment on the negotiations taking place, saying, "I'm familiar with China Harbour, but I'm not willing to say anything else about it."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 2, 2014
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