Khanfar: The New Facilities with Jordan Support Palestinian Trade, Exports, and Industry

Ramallah - Afaq News - The Secretary-General of the Palestinian Federation of Industries, Mahdi Khnafer, praised the new facilities that have been witnessed in the movement of goods and travelers between Palestine and Jordan, considering them an important step in light of the difficult economic conditions facing the Palestinian economy.

Khnafer commended the Jordanian positions supporting the Palestinian people, affirming that Jordan represents a key economic and commercial gateway for Palestine towards its Arab and regional surroundings, and that enhancing economic integration between the two sides serves the interests of both parties.

He pointed to the importance of expanding commercial cooperation, which includes increasing the presence of Jordanian products and inputs in the Palestinian market, alongside facilitating the access of Palestinian products to the Jordanian market and from there to Arab and regional markets.

In this context, Khnafer praised the efforts made by the President of the Palestinian Federation of Industries, Nassar Nassar, in following up on issues related to the industrial sector and the national economy, including the movement of trade and travelers between Palestine and Jordan.

He considered that allowing Jordanian trucks entering Palestinian territories loaded with goods to return loaded with Palestinian products instead of returning empty would reduce transportation costs and enhance the efficiency of shipping movement, which contributes to supporting Palestinian exports.

He also welcomed the extension of working hours at the Karama crossing, considering that this step would alleviate congestion and waiting times for travelers, calling for building on it towards further facilitation of the movement of citizens and goods between the two sides.

Regarding the internal economic situation, Khanfar confirmed that the industrial sector represents one of the essential components of the Palestinian economy, stressing the need to provide an environment that helps factories to continue, expand, and increase their contribution to the GDP and create job opportunities.

He stated that the continued operation of factories means preserving job opportunities, family incomes, and the cycle of economic activity, considering that empowering the Palestinian industry is directly related to enhancing citizens' ability to continue their work and sources of income.

He called for the removal of obstacles that limit the ability of the Palestinian industry and the General Union of Industries to perform their roles, including completing the legal procedures related to representing the industrial sector, pointing to the importance of having an institutional framework capable of following up on the issues of industrialists and defending their interests.

Khanfar concluded his remarks by emphasizing the importance of building on the historical and economic relations between Palestine and Jordan, deepening commercial cooperation between the two sides, alongside enhancing production, industry, and employment in Palestine.