Palestinian minister hopes to develop peace, economy together

December 27, 2017

Ramallah, West Bank- Palestinian Minister of National Economy Abeer Odeh, in an interview with Jiji Press, has expressed her hope to simultaneously develop the economy and foster peace in the Palestinian territories.

At present, eight Palestinian companies are operating in Jericho Agro Industrial Park, a core project announced 10 years ago under Japan's Corridor for Peace and Prosperity initiative aimed at supporting the territories' economic development. The corridor initiative, proposed in July 2006 by then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, calls for cooperation among Japan, Israel, Palestinians and Jordan.

The JAIP project is attracting attention from the international community as a good example of economic development in the Palestinian territories.

"JAIP is a very important and strategic project" for Palestinians, Odeh said, expressing her hope that the project will create many jobs and increase production so that Palestinian goods will reach the international market.

Odeh expects JAIP to create 5,000 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs eventually. Japan is also assisting the development of JAIP-related infrastructure, such as access roads, electricity and water, Odeh said. "We are very thankful for the support."

As a major challenge for the project, the minister cited complicated work to obtain Israel's approval for the construction of a road that would reach Jordan from JAIP in the West Bank city of Jericho.

The road is an important part of the project that would make Palestinians' trade with countries via Jordan easier.

The planned road would, however, pass Area C, in which Israel has authority over security and civil control based on the 1993 Oslo accord between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

If the issue is sorted out, the project will boost exports, Odeh said.

She said that US President Donald Trump's recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital will affect the Palestinian economy.

The Palestinian territories cannot attract foreign investors at a time when protests against the United States are taking place, she said, adding that local investment will also "slow down because the situation is unpredictable."

Odeh said that economic development is important, but cannot replace a political solution, indicating her view that the economy and peace should be developed together. Jiji Press