Prime Minister Signs Agreements to Fund 210 Projects with $70 Million

SadaNews - Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa signed agreements to fund more than 210 projects supported by Arab and Islamic funds across various governorates, amounting to $70 million.

This took place during a ceremony for signing the agreements related to the endorsement of these projects, under the patronage and presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, today, Monday, in his office in Ramallah. The event was attended by the representative of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, Samir Jarad, the representative of the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah, Ikhlas Ratrot, the Prime Minister's advisor for Arab and Islamic funds, Nasser Qatami, along with several ministers, representatives of national and charitable institutions, and representatives from more than 60 local bodies, including municipalities, village councils, and refugee camps.

This support comes through the Al-Aqsa Fund, managed by the Islamic Development Bank, with a value of $32.7 million aimed at constructing, equipping, and finishing five government schools at a cost of about $7 million, implementing road works spanning 13 km at a cost of $7.45 million, and equipping 6 model computer centers benefiting 720 trainees annually from youth and girls in refugee camps at a cost of $540,000. Additionally, it includes the rehabilitation of infrastructure projects in 70 local entities at a cost of $12.85 million, along with the Tarabot program, which aims to enhance resilience and recovery and development in remote communities through emergency response in the West Bank and Jerusalem, costing $2 million as the first phase of a three-year plan.

Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa stated that these agreements support the most needy sectors, particularly education, local governance, vocational training, health, and community development.
He added, "These projects represent a part of the implementation steps of the broader government program, which is the 'National Development and Development Program,' being executed as part of 10 vital initiatives covering important sectors."
He expressed gratitude to the Arab and Islamic funds "for their continuous support to Palestine," and appreciated the Arab countries that "contribute to these funds and support them, helping to reinforce the steadfastness of the Palestinian people."

The Prime Minister emphasized that these projects represent part of the implementation steps for the broader government program, the National Development and Development Program, being implemented as part of 10 key initiatives that include important sectors.

Mustafa stressed the continued effort to enhance the resilience of our people despite all circumstances and obstacles, asserting that the will of our people to live will always surpass the will of the occupier in killing, destruction, and displacement.

The Prime Minister thanked the Arab and Islamic funds for their continuous support to the State of Palestine and all the brotherly Arab countries that contribute to supporting these funds, which help enhance the steadfastness of our people, and acknowledged the efforts of the Prime Minister’s advisor for Arab and Islamic funds and his team for their distinguished work and high efficiency in their contributions, and to the ministers and heads of national and local bodies for their remarkable efforts in building our beloved homeland.

For his part, Samir Jarad, representative of the Arab Fund for Economic Development said: "The Arab Fund for Economic Development has been proactive in supporting the Palestinian people since 1981. We have been keen to support the efforts of the Palestine Liberation Organization by funding projects inside Palestine, in coordination and collaboration with the governor of the State of Palestine at the Arab Fund". He added, "We have been working diligently to meet the needs of various sectors and mitigate the impacts that the occupation has caused and continues to cause."

These agreements focus on supporting local bodies and enhancing their service and developmental capabilities, including the development of road, water, and sewage networks, in addition to rehabilitating schools and educational facilities, and equipping vocational training centers, along with developing developmental programs, not to mention supporting the sector.

Furthermore, Ikhlas Ratrot, representative of the Islamic Development Bank – Jeddah, stated that "the new support package comes in the form of grants from the contributions of Arab and Islamic funds to the Al-Aqsa Fund, based on priorities set by the Palestinian government from projects requested for funding by the ministries, which are submitted through the Prime Minister’s advisor to the administration in Jeddah."

The scope of these projects extends to include the West Bank, Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and reaching the refugee camps in Lebanon.

On his part, Nasser Qatami, Prime Minister’s advisor for Arab and Islamic funds, confirmed that the role of Arab funds has never been limited to providing funding alone, but has been a true partner in enhancing the steadfastness of our people on their land. Over 23 years, these funds have contributed to supporting thousands of developmental projects in various sectors and across all provinces of the homeland, including Jerusalem, along with the refugee camps in Lebanon.

For her part, Ikhlas Ratrot, representative of the Islamic Development Bank, pointed out that the new support package comes in the form of grants from the contributions of Arab and Islamic funds to the Al-Aqsa Fund, based on the priorities of the Palestinian government from the projects that ministries request funding for.