On the 27th October 2013, a crucial meeting took place for the Israeli-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce. On the first plane, the General Assembly of the Chamber was created as composed of approximately thirty of the people involved in its activities. In this meeting participated varied relevant Governmental Ministries Representatives, the Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of the Regional Cooperation Ministry, of the Israeli Economic Organizations, of the Manufacturers Association, the Union of Commercial Chambers, representatives from the Private Sector, the Peres Center for Peace, the ECF and multiple other businesspeople.
The meeting took place on behalf of the purpose to retarget the activities of the Chamber in the recent period. The main objective is to place the Chamber as the focal point of all those–both individuals and state and non-state organizations who deal with the Palestinians in the economic and business sphere, at any possible level of the trade relations between Israel and the Palestinians. As well, a concise and detailed review of the Chamber’s activities conducted thus far has been made at the meeting and, most importantly, the calendar of activities of the year 2014 was defined at the same time.
The new CEO, Baruch Mazor, was chosen and entered his office term immediately after. And David Simcha, the President of IPCC, has stressed the importance of specifically addressing the issues that strengthen the Israeli side of the relations vis-à-vis the Palestinian side.
This constituted an extremely fruitful meeting that, in a way, has served as a cornerstone in the Chamber’s lead, activities and orientation given the change of the office head.
Objectives of the Chamber
In the business relations-building process the Chamber never leaves behind its central emphasis on developing the overall the relations between the Israelis and Palestinians. However, it is first and foremost important for the IPCC to focus on first serving the interests of the Israeli side vis-à-vis the Palestinian one, in their trading and commercial activities. This has been one of the most highlighted objectives of the organization.
The second target of the Chamber, which is already taking place, is the quick shift towards being the focal point structure of the multi-organizational business network within the Palestinian sector. We constantly work on being the central body that coordinates the majority of activities that have to do with the promotion of business relations with the Palestinians. We are the focal point for a vast range of active organizations in the field as the promoters of their operational plans.
The Chamber will continue to be the body in charge of the removal of obstacles, attempting to resolve the logistical and procedural problems that cross-border dynamics face; namely, permits, passages, infrastructure, and more. In short, we serve as a main catalyze body, a block opener, to the business relations amongst the two partners.