President Trump's Deal — Trump Vision 2020

·       Episode No. 20

·       Preparing the necessary infrastructure

·       Energy:

-        The shortage of affordable electricity has had profound effects on the welfare of the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip. In the near term, this project will focus on rapidly ending the electricity crisis in Gaza — ensuring that Palestinians in Gaza receive at least 16 hours of electricity per day within one year of project implementation. This goal will be achieved through investments in network development, a power plant in Gaza, and new renewable energy facilities. Additional investments in energy infrastructure will ensure Gaza’s continued access to electricity within five years and will reduce the cost of electricity in the West Bank by increasing local supply and improving network infrastructure. Finally, this project will provide technical support to increase the capacity of Palestinian utilities to manage and service this sector.

-        21 projects, phase one totaling $461 million of which $191 million grants + $203 million loans, + $68 million diera, while phase two $410 million of which $48 grants, $300 million loans + + $63 million, whereas phase three totaling $1,710 million of which
- Water...

-        Access to water is a critical enabling factor for economic activity across many sectors of the Palestinian economy. By directing major investments to infrastructure that increases water supplies, including desalination facilities, wells, and distribution networks, this project has the potential to double the amount of potable water available per capita to Palestinians within five years. Additional financing will support the development of new wastewater treatment facilities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, putting an end to the ongoing public health risks posed by untreated sewage. This treated water will be reused, yielding large volumes of affordable water for agricultural and industrial use.

-        (15 projects, valued at $2,322 million of which $1,462 million as grants, $741 million as loans, and $119 million as private investment amounts.., phase one $240 million of which $190 million grants, and $50 million as loans, while phase two reached $1,252 million, of which $851 million as grants, $357 million as loans, and $44 million as investment, whereas phase three financing amounted to $830 million of which $421 million as grants, $334 million as loans, and $75 million as investors)

-        Electronic services: Although most of the world has experienced a digital technology revolution, digital services in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are limited. This project will help Palestinians make significant progress in digital services by supporting the Palestinian private sector in developing 4G LTE and 5G communications services. To expand Internet access, other financial incentives will support Palestinian companies and municipalities in providing public high-speed wireless Internet services. These investments will bring about a digital transformation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and support economic growth across multiple sectors of the Palestinian economy.

-        (6 projects, amounting to $2,625 million of which $50 million as grants, $1,869 million as loans, $706 million as private investment amounts, where $260 million is paid in phase one, $340 million in phase two and $2,025 million in phase three...)

·       Supporting private sector growth

-        Tourism: The unique and compelling characteristics give the West Bank and the Gaza Strip the potential to transform into a successful global tourist destination. Very few places in the world are home to such magnificent historical and religious sites. In addition, more than forty kilometers of coastline in Gaza along the Mediterranean could be developed into a modern urban waterfront city, inspired by examples such as Beirut, Hong Kong, Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, and Tel Aviv. Equally promising, traditional Palestinian cuisine varies by region and entices visitors. Every Palestinian city prides itself on its own signature dishes and flavors, from Rokab ice cream in Ramallah to the famous knafeh of Nablus. Together, these tourist areas in the West Bank and Gaza provide rich potential opportunities for tourism. To unlock the benefits of increased tourism in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, this project will support investment in hotels, food and beverage establishments, and other tourism-related industries. Additional financing will be used to improve hospitality training and to renovate and upgrade tourist sites. Finally, this project will also finance a major international marketing campaign to highlight the tourist attractions of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to audiences around the world. Through these and other investments, Palestinians will be able to access the resources they need to build a thriving tourism industry — one that can bring tens of thousands of visitors annually to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and stimulate economic growth across multiple sectors of the Palestinian economy.

-        (6 projects totaling $1,450 million of which $300 million as grants, $865 million as loans, and $285 million as investor amounts. Phase one spends $200 million, phase two spends $750 million and in phase three $300 million is paid..).

-        Project summary: To fully develop the Palestinian tourism industry, new investments are needed to improve accommodations and attractions near popular tourist sites. This project will provide hotel owners and tour companies access to low-interest loans by facilitating new lending administered in cooperation with Palestinian banks. A lending capacity of up to $375 million will be made available for five years to the program, ensuring Palestinians have the capital necessary to rapidly develop this sector. After five years, this facility may be extended and expanded for an additional five years. Separately, an additional $200 million in the form of grants will support the rehabilitation and development of potential tourist sites.

-        Agriculture: While agriculture accounts for about 8 percent of Palestinian employment, this sector has not realized its potential due to limited access by Palestinian farmers to land, water, and technology. An improved business environment in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and access to more land will create a huge opportunity for farmers to expand their operations.

-        At the same time, this project will support farmers seeking to secure financing from local banks and to work with FinTech innovators. With greater access to capital, farmers will have the opportunity to buy new seeds and fertilizers while developing greenhouses, irrigation systems, and other infrastructure. Additional financing will help rehabilitate arable land and build a new education center to strengthen agricultural education and training. These improvements will increase the ability of Palestinian farmers to shift their efforts to higher-value crops and give them the opportunity to use modern farming techniques, better capitalize their businesses, and ultimately support their families.
- 6 projects with a total value of $910 million, of which $115 million as grants, $708 million as loans, and as for investors, their amount in these loans was $88 million...

·       Housing:

-        High real estate prices in the West Bank and Gaza have made it difficult for many Palestinians to buy a home. Peace will increase construction in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and lower real estate costs. The ability to access new housing, supported by mortgage loans from Palestinian banks for qualified homebuyers, will support a growing housing market, improve the quality of life for ordinary Palestinians, and help build strong communities. With strengthened property rights, Palestinian homeowners will also be able to use their residential assets as collateral for loans, which may be used for small business borrowing or capital investment, thereby stimulating the Palestinian economy and increasing employment opportunities.

-        2 projects totaling $1 billion, of which $500 million as grants, and $500 million as loans..

·       Manufacturing:

-        From the wooden sculptures, ornate decorations, and exquisite embroidery, demand for Palestinian handicrafts has existed for hundreds of years. Today Palestinians have an opportunity to revive their legacy of high-quality manufacturing in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This program will support the development of modern industrial zones and other manufacturing facilities where Palestinian companies benefit from tax and financing incentives that would lower the cost of doing business. Moreover, these specialized zones will provide companies with on-site training services and facilities to increase competitiveness and productivity. A portion of the financing provided by this project will be allocated to developing joint facilities with neighboring countries, which will help enable Palestinians and their neighbors to pool resources for mutual benefit. Through this program, products made by Palestinians will be known for quality and value and can fill store shelves and warehouses around the world.

-        10 projects with a total amount of $875 million, of which $125 million as grants, $600 million as loans, and $150 million as investor funds..

-        Natural resources: There are large endowments of stone and marble, hydrocarbon materials, and other minerals in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This project will provide support to develop key resource reserves, such as the Gaza natural gas field, oil fields, and quarry sites in the West Bank. It will also provide technical assistance to establish a regulatory framework for exploiting natural resources, including shared resources along border areas. These resources have the potential to generate billions of dollars in revenues and create thousands of high-quality Palestinian jobs with good wages

-        4 projects with a total amount of $1,450 million of which $10 million as grants, $1,080 million as loans, and $360 million as investor funds..

-        Economic stability and development: The long-term economic outlook for the West Bank and Gaza Strip is linked to economic strength and stability in neighboring countries. At present, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon — which are important markets for Palestinians — face clear economic challenges. This project will build on the national development plans of these countries to help them overcome obstacles to their economic growth by supporting efforts to provide reliable local electricity, improve water delivery, support private sector business, strengthen financial institutions, and modernize public sector services. These investments will reduce the risks of economic instability in the region and create a major opportunity for Palestinians to increase exports, grow foreign direct investment, and build new commercial partnerships with companies in the region.

Strengthening and developing economic relations and integration with regional parties

-        Regional trade: Regional integration and cooperation have the potential to create important new economic opportunities for the Palestinian people. Just as Dubai and Singapore benefited from their strategic locations and prospered as regional financial centers, the West Bank and Gaza Strip can ultimately develop into a regional trade hub. This project will encourage the construction of new infrastructure to facilitate trade and transport across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Jordan, Egypt, Israel, and Lebanon. From improving airports and ports in neighboring countries to developing a regional center for natural gas trade in Egypt, this project will improve mobility in the region and open new commercial opportunities for the Palestinian private sector\

Investment in the regional area:

-        Regional investment: To improve the economic prospects of the region as a whole, attention must be devoted to stimulating growth in the sectors of neighboring countries. Drawing on lessons learned from Poland in the 1990s and Egypt and Tunisia after the Arab Spring in 2011, venture funds have proven successful at boosting growth by using initial public funds for investment funds that target private equity and credit. Jordan, and perhaps Lebanon and others, can benefit significantly from new institutional funds that support local companies. Such funds can invest equity capital at an early stage in promising private-sector businesses in these countries, create tens of thousands of new direct and indirect jobs for their citizens, and facilitate partnerships with employees and their companies and experts in industries around the world. The returns from new successful projects in the Middle East region will benefit the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and can provide the basis for large regional institutional funds or a West Bank and Gaza Strip Foundation fund in the future

-        Monday, 17-2-2020