PalTrade, IDB, and ESCWA host Partnering for a Promising Palestine in Jordan

With an agenda focussed on dialogue, the Forum organised by the Palestinian Trade Organization, (PalTrade) will highlight the growing prospects in the Palestinian private sector and invite the Arab private sector members to listen to their counterparts and find a mechanism of cooperation.

Partnering in, and endorsing this initiative are the Economic & Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). Chief representatives of each organisation will underline the regional objectives of the campaign.

"The Arab private sector is the engine of hope for vitalizing the Palestinian economy. We are actively seeking to engage the Arab private sector in a more cohesive and streamlined manner, to galvanize resources to build toward economic sustainability despite the current situation," says Chairman of the Board of PalTrade, Mr. Samir Hulileh.

"Shifting the perceived status of Palestine from a welfare state to a competitive, income and profit-generating state is one of our objectives" added Hulileh.

Key sessions at the forum will introduce the current relationship between pan-Arab and Palestinian private sectors, address the challenges facing Palestinian trade within the region, and cover the other -more equitable- face of Palestine. Roundtable workshops will discuss improving market access for Palestinian goods into Arab Markets, transferring knowledge and technology, providing technical assistance to Palestinian businesses, developing investment channels into Palestine, evaluating joint ventures, and networking between Arab and Palestinian business associations by building combined agendas to support reform.

The forum aims to encourage a revised approach to Palestinian economic and social upkeep and integrity, integrating it into the Arab world as an equal member and partner in industry and trade.

The media will play a vital role and be an integral partner in illustrating this side of the Palestinian equation that motivates mutual pan-Arab civil advancement. Partnering in the proposed objectives of the forum, the Arab private sector will help synergize the region with Palestine.

Participants at the Forum include the Jordanian businessman Hamdi Al Tabbah, President of the Union of the Arab Businessmen Association, Dr. Hassan Al Sherif from ESCWA, Layla Salhab Karame, President of the Association of the Lebanese Businesswomen, Mohammad Jamaluddine Al Bayoumi, President of the Arab Investors Association, Jihad Kandeel, the Executive Director of the Palestinian Fund for rescue and development Interpal, Ali bin Eid Al Hussaini, Chairman of the Civilisation Center, KSA, Thabet Al Taher from the Union of the Arab Businessmen Association, Abdul Salam Al Athouri, Amin Ahmad Qasim and Ahmad Al Gharasi from the Yemenite Council for Businessmen and Investors, Yousef Bazyan, Palestinian businessman, South Africa and Dr. Abdul Wahed Al Afouri from the Yemenite Association for Industrialists.

The Forum is taking place at the Dead Sea Marriott Hotel on the 4th and 5th of September.