A company to market Palestinian products throughout the Arab world will be set up as a joint venture between private sectors in Palestine and the UAE, according to Dr. Saadi Al Kronz, Palestinian Minister of Industries.
State sector involvement will extend only up to the creation of the company and determining its physical venue. Following that, the private sectors in the two countries are due to take over, the Minister told Gulf News.
Details regarding the company's capital and structure would be worked out within the next two days. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah has instructed his chamber officials to start the mechanism, Dr. Al Kronz claimed.
Al Kronz pointed out that Sheikh Sultan has also asked his chamber to begin the establishment of a permanent Palestinian Products Exhibition and Trade Center.
"I would deem my visit a major success if such a company, to market Palestinian products throughout the UAE, sees the light of day" Al Kronz said. "It would provide us one more window to the outside world - and we have few windows these days."
He assured that Palestinian exports to be marketed by the proposed new body would be able to flow through the King Hussein Bridge that borders Jordan, effectively bypassing the several “bottlenecks” on international trade flows imposed by Israel.
The Palestine News Agency reports that while trade flows would initially be routed through Sharjah, the Minister expressed his utmost hopes that the company would be able to establish in the future similar bases in order to expand traffic volumes. He mentioned Dubai and Abu Dhabi as potential places.
Earlier on Wednesday, Sheikh Sultan along with Dr. Al Kronz inaugurated the maiden Al Aqsa Intifada Exhibition at the Expo Center in Sharjah.
The event, which takes place until January 14, is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Industries has organized it, with active backing from the Sharjah Chamber.
An estimated 60 companies are exhibiting their products, which include foodstuff, garments, ceramics, marble, packaging machinery, leatherwear, plastic items and cosmetics.
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
