Ramallah: Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa met with Aftab Ahmed, Regional Director for the Middle East at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to discuss mechanisms for enhancing the IFC's programs and activities in Palestine. The meeting took place in Ramallah and was also attended by Stephen Amblad, World Bank Country Director for Palestine, Rafif Darwish, IFC Country Director for Palestine, Ayman Ismail, Head of the Palestinian Energy Authority, and Raed Muqbel, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Local Government.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency, the meeting addressed several vital sectors that the IFC focuses on in its programs and projects within Palestine. These efforts are led in partnership with the Palestinian private sector and include renewable energy, solid waste management, digital transformation, healthcare, energy efficiency, and green buildings.
Prime Minister Mustafa emphasized the government's dedication to creating a suitable environment for investment, encouraging development and productive projects, particularly in the health, energy, and digital transformation sectors. This approach aims to improve services and strengthen economic and environmental sustainability.
He affirmed the government's commitment to providing necessary facilities to developers and companies interested in implementing development projects, provided they demonstrate seriousness and a willingness to invest and develop. Mustafa commended the IFC's role in supporting the Palestinian private sector by providing financing and technical expertise, as well as contributing to the development of strategic projects with economic, developmental, and environmental dimensions.
The Prime Minister also praised the World Bank's support for Palestine, noting the provided support has reached nearly $300 million annually since the formation of the 19th government. He highlighted this as an unprecedented development in the scale and nature of the World Bank's work in Palestine, through both financing development projects and supporting vital sectors and essential services.
The meeting discussed efforts to accelerate and develop the solid waste-to-energy project, particularly the "Zahrat al-Finjan" project, considered a leading strategic initiative in Palestine. This project is crucial for improving solid waste management and converting it into a source of alternative energy, thereby contributing to reducing environmental impact and promoting reliance on renewable energy sources.
Aftab Ahmed reaffirmed the IFC's commitment to supporting key development projects in Palestine, particularly in healthcare, energy, and digital transformation sectors, while highlighting the strength of the IFC's project portfolio in Palestine compared to other countries in the region.