"Infrastructure as a strategic lever for development, security, and international cooperation"
This was the central theme of the first Italian parliamentary and business mission to Israel, promoted by ELNET Italia and held between March 9-12.
A diverse delegation, composed of institutional representatives and business leaders, addressed the challenges facing a country marked by trauma but determined to rebuild.
The mission covered several key aspects of Italian-Israeli cooperation, highlighting the crucial role of infrastructure in post-crisis reconstruction. The meeting with Yehuda Morgenstein, Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Housing, revealed an ambitious ten-year construction plan and the search for Italian and international companies interested in participating. Similarly, a meeting with Ilan Rosenfeld, CEO of ETGAR A. Engineering, the government-appointed authority for the entire Israeli infrastructure sector, provided an insight into future developments and challenges. Rosenfeld presented an extraordinary infrastructure project: a tens of billions of dollars metropolitan railway network to connect the north and south of the country. He invited Italian companies to participate, emphasizing the opportunities for collaboration.
The delegation met with Shlomi Kofman, Vice President and Head of International Collaborations at Israel Innovation Authority . He provided the delegates with an overview of Israel’s innovation ecosystem and opportunities for international companies, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach to security, innovation, and urban development. Key insights were given on the prop-tech, real-tech and construct-tech sectors.
The delegation
also witnessed firsthand the brutality of the October 7, 2023 massacre, particularly at Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the first targets of Hamas’s terrorist attack. They did so simultaneous to ELNET-CEE’s Civil Defense Delegation.
Every corner bears witness to an unprecedented tragedy, revealing the deep pain of an entire population facing an unimaginable catastrophe. Yuval Dancyg, son of murdered Hamas hostage Alex Dancyg, gave the delegates the tour of the Kibbutz, which only rendered even more palpable the atrocities described by him. The delegates were moved beyond words by this experience.
A visit to the site of the Nova Music Festival Site further highlighted the human toll of the massacre – young lives cut short, dreams shattered and the lasting horror of the event. The open wound of this site symbolises a collective trauma and is a heartbreaking reminder of senseless violence.
Israel’s new infrastructure projects are not only designed for functionality but also play a broader role in protecting the population and ensuring social stability. This is where cooperation with Italian expertise could bring significant added value.
While much public attention is focused on security and diplomacy, the mission demonstrated that infrastructure is a crucial element for Israel’s future and its relationship with Italy. At the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a briefing with Ron Gerstenfeld, Director of European Economic Affairs, and Ambassador Zvi Vapni – recently appointed Israeli ambassador to The Netherlands – gave an updated perspective on the EU-Israel relations and opportunities for Italian businesses. They met with Member of Knesset (MK) Merav Ben-Ari from the “Yesh Atid” Party at The Knesset. As Head of the Israeli Mission to Europe, MK Ben-Ari shared how important such delegations remain to spread word on the Israeli reality. She did not spare words to express how concerning the treatment of information is in Europe compared to how reality is reminded to the Israeli population. This meeting ended with a warm invitation from both sides to remain in touch, with MK Ben-Ari commending the delegates for their willingness to come to Israel and show their support while learning from the field.
Italy - a Global Leader
Italy has long been a global leader in the field of infrastructure development, both on the local and international stages. Its legacy of engineering excellence, innovative design, and strategic vision has established the country as one of the foremost players in the construction of critical infrastructure projects. This could permit Italy to play a key role in supporting Israel’s post-crisis reconstruction and urban development. The Italian infrastructure delegation stressed the need for a more structured dialogue between the two countries in this field. Infrastructure is not just about cement and steel – it is a tool for social cohesion, security and economic growth. This is a sector in which Italy has much to offer and which deserves greater attention in bilateral cooperation strategies.
The program ended with a closing dinner at the Mamilla Hotel, overseeing the Old City of Jerusalem, in the presence of ELNET-Italy’s CEO, Mrs. Roberta Anati, and ELNET-Israel’s COO, Mr. Benjamin Touati.
This was a successful trip, one to look forward to repeating !