1 Palestine Investment Conference 2010 Closing Session Summary ...

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The presence of this large number of businessmen over the course of this conference, which is convening for the second time in Bethlehem, the city of peace of love, and near the city of Jerusalem, the place of journey for Mohammad, and I stand here today in this concluding session. I go back to the memory of the year 2005 when we started to prepare for the first conference; there was always a concern if investors would really come in Palestine when it is still under occupation. The preparations were almost completed after we visited some countries, and there was encouragement, and you all remember what happened after the year 2006. And so we decided to hold the conference in 2008, two years ago. The surprise was in the large number of people who attended the conference. There were many agreements and projects that were signed. And these agreements that were signed two years ago are being implemented. For example the Rawabi City, as work started in this city, as well as the Watania Company. During the two days of this conference, after speaking to people from abroad, we asked them what is the difference between the conference in 2008 and this second one. The answer was this one is much better because we started to feel a lot of changes, particularly in the plans of the PA Government, sensing an improvement in security, judiciary, and all the different sectors that are crucial to investment. There was a clearer focus for the conference members. This is a chance to meet each other and assess needs and future projects. I call on all businessmen and colleagues from abroad. There are a lot of possibilities in all the northern governorates. For example electricity, which is imported from Israel. There are many, many projects. Of course there are some statistics and information of the Palestinian products…which reach only 15% in this market. Also in the sector of agriculture there are several opportunities and successes made possible. As my colleague Jafar has already said, the investment law in Palestine, as this is another stimulus for investors in Palestine. Come to Palestine and share with us the profits and the successes. The question of stone and marble, we are proud we have factories that are considered ranking, leading companies in the world. When we hear that the Palestinian stones have reached 60 countries around the world, we know it takes defiance, struggle, and potential. I know you all have worked hard over the past two days but I would like to thank all of you. We also thank the Palestinian Investment Promotion Agency; I also thank all the members of the Steering Committee, and all the partners of the private companies. I would also thank all those who worked day and night to make this conference a reality. - Mr. Jafar Hdaib: One cannot thank oneself, our brothers, businessmen and participants from Gaza, who if any one of them suffered for one minute then we suffer for hours…those who came from Gaza through the way of convoy, and they are forced to go back at the same time in the same manner, these people cannot be thanked enough, for they are the owners of this event. But I must also thank and express my gratitude to the Gaza Strip Committee. And it is important to thank the Jerusalem Committee headed by Mazen Sinokrot which is able to present a new investment company with a capitol of 20 million dollars. I would like to thank the heads of these committees. We will do an accurate assessment of this conference. We have conducted a new strategy in coordination with experts and this strategy that is Palestinian investment agency has adopted will lead to a change in the drastic work of this agency. Following the outbreak of the Intifada, the agency was only capable of giving incentives limited. But this gives it the chance to do whatever is necessary in terms of doing follow up and planning and carrying out the strategy. The findings and strategies, recommendation, and network will be disseminated. First I would like to express my gratitude to CCC, PIF, PADICO, Palestinian Electricity Company, Paltel, Al Aqua Fund, USAID, 2
UKAID; these are the partners of this conference who based on a decision by the Higher Steering Committee we decided that Muneeb Al Masri would speak on behalf of all these partners. - Mr. Muneeb Al Masri: Brothers and sisters we were so happy to meet you today at this conference and at every event that allows us to meet businesspeople from abroad. The success of this event is no doubt the success for international solidarity, which we desperately need. You come here and your interest in taking part in building the economy, your contribution to building the modern Palestinian state and achievement of the dream, is important to me. We extend our gratitude to all our friends…Abu Mazen, Abu Khaled, and the Palestinian Government Hassan Abu Libdeh, Jafar….team of preparation of this conference. Congratulations to all of you on behalf of all my brothers and sisters. I would call this the third conference, because the second was really held in Nablus. - Mr. Jafar Hdaib: Many of you in this place know me well that I am not a bureaucrat. You know me well, I have never been an opportunist, and I never imagined I would present abu Libdi. But this day has come and this is equivalent to the proverb: do not be astonished of anything, because today I present Dr. Hassan. In May 2006 a decision was taken to host the Palestine Conference, and that decision was delayed for two years until May 2008. During that period as my brother abu Omar said, but I want to say the situation is better than then. At that time the situation was different, it was absolutely different. We did not have this theater here, and did not exist. Pharmaceuticals, Fatah movement, engineering, it was held in November that year. Then the London Conference that was held in December. The Exhibition Committee came and made field visits when it was under preparation. The Higher Committee made visits while this event was planned; I know some people left their work and their businesses in order to be active in these communities. Dr. Hassan I thank you for your management of the Higher Committee, and chairing it, and I would like to extend our thanks to all those who are to be honored in this conference. There are more 13 supplier companies that were contracted for this, DAI, Wassel, Sky, MAS Institute, Paltrade, and to all companies functioning here. We promise you as an executive administration that all committees and members will be honored later in the presence of the PM, who wanted to convey to you this honor will be done later in his presence. The conference is to achieve a higher goal, a forum for networking, to attract investment, and for not announcing figures. Some figures were announced yesterday by the media center, they decided to have a comprehensive evaluation, and this report will be subjected to the Higher Committee. After that it will be published on the websites and all participants. - Dr. Hasan Abu Libdeh: Allow me to start by saying to all our distinguished guests who came from abroad, you have been generous by your participation. I talk on behalf of everyone from the public sector to the private, this conference reps the solidarity and conviction to contribute to building Palestine, and to put it on the map of world economy. I also reiterate here that this conference was also honored by two crowds, the people from the Gaza strip. From the private sector there that is under siege, we thank u for your participation and we 3
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