“Azerbaijan Investment Holding plans a $270 million investment in Israel.”
Azerbaijan Investment Holding (AIH) is considering the acquisition of a 30% stake in Israel’s leading desalination company, IDE, and is currently conducting preliminary due diligence for this purpose.
Startup.az reports, citing The Marker, that the value of the stake in question is estimated at between USD 250 million and USD 270 million.
IDE is not only Israel’s largest desalination company but also one of the global leaders in the sector. The company has built all desalination plants in Israel except for Palmachim. Currently, through its 50% stake in the Hadera plant and the Sorek 2 facility, IDE controls approximately 20% of Israel’s desalination market.
The company is also constructing a new plant in Western Galilee, which is scheduled for completion in 2027. Once this facility and Sorek 2 reach full capacity, IDE’s share of the Israeli desalination market is expected to rise to 45%.
If the deal is finalized, it would become Azerbaijan’s second major state investment in Israeli infrastructure. It should be recalled that in the summer of 2025, SOCAR acquired a 10% stake in Israel’s Tamar gas field for USD 1.25 billion.