Four major companies are competing to operate two new ports in Israel.

These sites are being built to compete with the country's existing facilities, which are all state-owned and run, and bring down the cost of imports as a result.

An international tender was placed by the Israel Ports Company (IPC) on a build-operate-transfer basis for both the Bayport terminal in Haifa and the Southport facility in Ashdod in July.

According to the Israeli transportation ministry, the interested parties are Terminal Investments from the Netherlands, Eurogate (Germany), International Container Terminal Services (the Philippines) and the Ballore Group (France).

Transportation minister Yisrael Katz believes the "port reform is in full swing" with interested parties ready to expand into country.

Prospective companies will be assessed via a pre-qualification period before formal bids are requested next year.

Port Technology reports the locations are built on reclaimed land and will each cost up to $1 billion (£615 million). IPC will build the basic foundations, dredges and docks, but the winning bidder will have to complete this with cranes, structures and other additions needed to complete a port.

Construction is expected to start at some point next year, with operations commencing as early as 2019.