Minister Khoury discusses with Hebron Mayor the issue of industrial zones

Mayor Khaled Osaily met this morning at his office with Dr. Bassem Khoury, Palestinian Minister of Economy and his accompanying delegation. Both parties discussed means to support the local economy in Hebron Governorate as well as mechanisms to establish new industrial and artifact zones.

At the beginning of the meeting, mayor Osaily welcomed the Minister and his accompanying delegation and provided them with a thorough briefing on economic conditions in Hebron, obstacles hindering industrial development in the Governorate and means to enhance industrial growth. “The industrial sector in Hebron -considered as the economic heart of Palestine- must be organized and new modern industrial zones adapted to the size and development of industries must be created. Consideration should also be given to handicrafts, a sector in dire need of attention”, he added.
Speaking about unemployment, Osaily said that support to industries in Hebron shall reduce the rate of widespread unemployment in Palestine in general and in Hebron in particular. He thanked H.E. the minister who made Hebron his first destination amongst Palestinian Governorates and valued efforts by the Palestinian government to shape the national Palestinian economy with a view to radically solving its problems.
Minister Khoury underlined the importance of Hebron industries to the Palestinian economy and their high contribution to the national income. We are in Hebron today, he said, to maintain ties with Palestinian Governorates, their institutions and inhabitants in order to get better acquainted with their needs and with the obstacles they face. “We have discussed with Hebron mayor the possibility of building an internal industrial zone on an area of 500 dunums with the best specifications, as well as another artifact zone on an area of 20 dunums. Both zones shall generate considerable income to Hebron in particular and to Palestinian Governorates in general. I am fully aware of the importance of building sound infrastructure for the national industry, strengthening the national economy and protecting Palestinian industries. The government has taken several steps in this regard, including imposing on importers the respect of certain conditions to ensure the quality of imported goods, protecting and strengthening the national production, and following up on quality assurance tags for all commercial and industrial products available on the market”.
At the end of the meeting, minister Khoury assured that follow-up shall continue on the creation of the internal industrial and artifact zones. Moreover, contacts between the ministry and Hebron municipality shall go on to serve the interests of citizens and to improve their daily lives