On Monday, 6 November 2017, the activities of the Palestinian Industries Fair and Ghethaona 2017 were launched in the governorate of Ramallah and Al Bireh. The fair was organized by the Palestinian Federation of Industries, the Palestinian Food Industries Union and specialized associations, with a main sponsorship from Bank of Palestine. Another opening ceremony was held on the previous day in Gaza City. The opening ceremony was held at Al Bireh municipality park venues in the presence of His Excellency the Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Rami Hamadallah, Her Excellency Mrs. Abir Odeh, the Minister of National Economy, Mr. Bassam Al Walweel, Chairman of the Palestinian Federation of Industries, Mr. Thaer Hamayel, Director of Marketing and Customer Service at Bank of Palestine, and several officials, businessmen, industrialists and media figures.
The Palestinian Industries Fair aims to promote Palestinian products and increase their share in the local market, as well as create networks between production companies on the one hand and merchants and distributors on the other. The fair will largely assist in supporting local products by exhibiting them before citizens and increase their share in consumers’ baskets.
The bank’s sponsorship of this event, which will be held over a period of several days in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, is part of the significant role it places in supporting Palestinian industries. Bank of Palestine is considered a main partner behind the success of many industrial, productive and agricultural projects, and this sponsorship is but a small fraction of its actual contribution to encouraging national industries to expand, continue and promote their capacities and capabilities to compete locally and internationally.
From another angle, Bank of Palestine exerted many efforts during the last few years to assist and develop the industrial sector through special programs that fund small, medium size and micro projects, which is parts of its strong belief that the real economy of our society depends on the promotion and development of such projects. The bank even established a special department that works day and night on the provision of financial services and free-of-charge consultation services. It also dedicated a credit portfolio with a value of over $200 million for funding small, medium size and micro projects and initiatives. This credit portfolio reached approximately $400 million. At the same time, the bank continues to provide on the ground support for commercial, agricultural and industrial enterprises and projects such as those implemented in the Gaza Industrial Zone, the Jericho Industrial Zone, in Tarqumia and other areas.