'Gaza has great potential'
World Bank envoy to Palestinian territories shares an optimistic vision of Gaza's economic future, invoking Singapore as a model
The World Bank envoy to the Palestinian territories said the Gaza Strip could flourish economically if the right conditions, such as law and order, and an border for goods to flow across, were met.
“Gaza has great economic potential, but it will be only be realized if Israel opens passages from the Strip, and if the Palestinians take control of law and order,” said the head of the World Bank in the Palestinian territories, Nigel Roberts.
Roberts said that investors would come “only if they knew that they could see their produce leave Gaza.”
The Palestinian Authority should also market tourism, added Roberts, but “it’s obvious to everyone that tourists would only come if they felt safe.”
“But the most important thing is the creation of jobs,” added Roberts.
Short-term goals
In the short-term future, the Palestinians can rely on funds by donors, since the PA has no way to invest money to create employment.
There is currently a concentrated effort by the community of donors and the Authority for the creation of a job program. (James) Wolfensohn, the Quartet envoy overseeing the disengagement plan, is playing a central role in this,” he said.
Law and order
Roberts said that two factors were vital in attracting the private sector to Gaza, “firstly the borders must be open, and second, the Authority must control law and order.”
He added that “up to now, significant trade is limited by Israel for security reasons. To see Gaza survive economically, it must produce. There is great potential for economic growth in Gaza, but the main problem is getting the goods out quickly, so they don’t spoil. The passage for goods must be freer. If, before the breakout of the intifada, in 1999, 300 trucks carrying produce left Gaza daily, today we are seeing only around 35 – 50 trucks.”
“The key lies in internal Palestinian politics and relations with Israel,” said Roberts.
“If these are solved then Gaza can really grow. It has great advantages: Its location, economic relations with Israel which will be very important in the future, a productive population, and access to international aid.”
Optimistic picture
Roberts painted a potentially optimistic picture for Gaza.
“The main question is how to exploit these to see real profits. To compare Gaza with Singapore may sound like fantasy, but if the right conditions are there, everything is possible," he said.
