The Jordan Times 6/4/2008:
Palestinian National Economy Minister Mohammad Kamal Hassouneh encouraged Jordanian and Arab businessmen on Saturday to undertake projects in the West Bank.
The minister acknowledged that since 1967, Israelis have pressed for dominance over the Palestinian economy but he indicated that under the total separation scheme envisaged by the Jewish state, Palestinians are now looking east to revive their economic situation.
He pointed in this regard to the power link from Jordan to Jericho.
According to Hassouneh, tough Israeli restrictions are making it all the more difficult for Palestinian traders and manufacturers to carry out their businesses through the ports and territories beyond the “green line.”
“The separation wall is also another barrier that pushes the Palestinians to seek their livelihood from eastern neighbours,” he told a press conference jointly held with Jordan’s Industry and Trade Minister Amer Hadidi.
In order to change the adverse perception of Palestinians, Hassouneh underlined the importance of the Palestine Investment Conference to be held in Bethlehem on May 21-23, under the slogan “Partners for Change.”
“As the first investment conference of this magnitude to be held in Palestine, the conference will serve as a platform to showcase promising investment opportunities in a variety of economic sectors in Palestine,” the minister said.
Noting that the conference was inspired by the international donor community’s December 2007 commitment of $7.7 billion to a comprehensive three-year development and rehabilitation plan for Palestine, he described the conference as an attestation of high-level political commitment from the Palestinian Authority (PA) to the investment-led growth of the Palestinian economy.
“The conference will raise awareness and inform potential investors about the local investment climate and the business opportunities in Palestine,” he stated.
Hadidi affirmed Jordan’s readiness to support the conference by persuading Jordanian industrialists and traders to participate and by facilitating the entry of all persons who will be coming to learn about the projects that are available.
Hassouneh stressed the message “you can do business in Palestine,” referring to the conference’s goal of informing businesspeople from around the globe that the doors to investment in Palestine are open.
He mentioned needs for infrastructure projects especially educational and health facilities as well as housing schemes.
Moreover, the minister spoke about deals involving telecommunications, information technology and industrial ventures, such as cement, stressing that registration and licencing of all projects will only be subject to the PA approval.
He dismissed any Israeli interference if all projects are legal, organised and non-strategic (water, power, roads..etc) within authorised Palestinian zones.
Approximately 700 Arab and international businesspeople have already been invited to attend the conference and the exhibition which will be associated with it to promote Palestinian products.
“Injustice will not prevail no matter how long it takes and we are determined to build our economy and to rebuild it again if destroyed,” Hassouneh concluded.