Financial Irregularities in the Palestinian Economic Sector in 2015/2016

Audit Bureau report on the quota and commodity lists in the Ministry of National Economy

The Audit Bureau conducted an audit of the Ministry of Economy’s work for the fiscal year 2015-2016...and it was found that quantities have not been adjusted since 1997...and that prices have not been reflected on the Palestinian market..

The quantities listed in the commodity lists have not been adjusted since 1997 to conform with the population increase, which amounted to about 71%..by comparing between the years 1997 -2017...which led to depriving the Palestinian market of its right to obtain quantities of goods larger than those granted to it more than 20 years ago..which led to the Ministry of Economy’s inability to meet the Palestinian market’s needs to obtain and benefit from imported goods through the previous lists..."

The prices of imported goods have not been reflected through the commodity lists...and the quota on prices in the Palestinian local market..which led to depriving the Palestinian citizen of obtaining those goods at reduced prices..compared with goods that were imported from outside the quota...and the commodity lists...and increased the profits of companies and traders at the expense of the Palestinian consumer.

There are no clear and documented standards for managing and granting shares in the quota and commodity lists and for allocating items from the commodity lists...without announcing them..a matter that does not provide...assurance regarding the transparency and efficiency ..of the Committee’s work..and does not guarantee fairness in the benefit from the quota system...and the commodity lists..and equality of opportunity..
Some companies were granted a share of the quota and the commodity lists despite their failure to import their previous shares contrary to the operation of the Committee’s mechanism..which led to depriving the Palestinian citizen..of benefiting from the privileges of goods imported under the quota system...and of not allowing other traders the opportunity to import them..