To close half of the government companies: the secret plan of the Government Companies Authority

The Government Companies Authority is planning a reform that will include closing, merging, and privatizing dozens of companies, aiming to save billions of shekels. The plan includes selling Bank Yahav, privatizing training funds, and merging Cross-Israel. The main obstacle: political opposition.

The Government Companies Authority, headed by Roi Kahlon, is planning a comprehensive reform that will include closing, merging, and privatizing dozens of government companies, aiming to save billions of shekels for the public coffers. The plan, which will be submitted to the new government, is expected to reduce the number of companies from 115 to about 20-30. Key steps include: privatizing Bank Yahav (expected revenue of one billion shekels), privatizing 11 training funds (an additional billion shekels), merging companies such as Arim and Dira LeHaskir, Cross-Israel with Netivei Ayalon, and dissolving 30 inactive companies in which about half a billion shekels are tied up. However, the plan is expected to face political opposition from ministers who benefit from appointments in these companies. The article quotes Nadav Zuk, senior deputy to the authority's director, explaining the need for reform while highlighting conflicts of interest in companies like Kant.