There is enormous potential in Palestinian economy, says Blair
Quartet envoy and former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright lead two-day conference on boosting Palestinian institutions.
Tony Blair believes there is enormous potential for business in the Palestinian territories, telling a conference in Prague on Saturday that boosting their economy would allow Palestinians to feel better prepared for statehood.
What the Palestinians need, Blair said, are measures that “improve not just the economy in the most basic sense, but also the economy in the sense that people feel that Palestinian statehood can become a reality because they see around them the developments within the Palestinian territories that are consistent with statehood.”
The conference, which focused on the Initiative for the Palestinian Economy (IPE), was co-chaired by the former British prime minister and former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright. The IPE, a wide-ranging plan to transform the Palestinian economy and create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the Palestinian territories, was put together by experts for the Quartet of Middle East peacemakers - the European Union, United Nations, United States, and Russia. It plan was drafted to coincide with and support the peace talks currently underway between Israel and the Palestinians.
The IPE, Blair said, “sets out what we need from the private sector, the international financial institutions, and the governments” in Jerusalem and Ramallah.
Deputy Palestinian Prime Minister Dr Mohammed Mustafa told the conference that the Palestinian leadership was committed to the development plan, and reiterated the potential of the Palestinian economy.
“The exercise today is first and foremost the story of the Palestinian economy, specifically about the unrealized potential of this economy. We have all the ingredients of a very successful and prosperous economy,” he said.
He warned, however, of “difficult and challenging conditions on the ground in the absence of independence,” but pledged “our full commitment to work with you as a serious, committed partner, to make sure this vision is implemented and the economic benefits are realized.”
The Quartet aims to develop the infrastructure in the Palestinian territories in anticipation of a successful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. With its many partners – like Microsoft, Cisco, General Electric, and Coca Cola – the initiative has focused on several key sectors.
The conference aimed to highlight the key areas targeted for growth, with energy, tourism, and agriculture. The initiative's corporate and state partners hope to develop waste water treatment facilities to enable the recycling of water for agricultural purposes.
A project of this scale requires close cooperation by the many partners, and as the Quartet's envoy, Blair is responsible for coordinating the immense resources at the disposal of friendly companies and countries.
Blair says the initiative that brings together politicians, Palestinian and international business representatives and financial institutions is meant to produce "the most detailed ... plan for the Palestinian economy."
It is unclear if any major deal can be announced in Prague because business development is closely linked to progress in the deadlocked negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Roei Eisenberg contributed to this report
