The General Assembly of the Palestinian Investment Fund Holds Its Annual Regular Meeting

SadaNews - The Palestinian Investment Fund held its regular general assembly meeting in Jericho at the site of the Jericho Cement Factory project implemented by the fund, chaired by Iyad Joudeh, Chairman of the Board of Directors, with the attendance of board members, members of the general assembly, Abdul Hamid Al-Abwah, the general manager, in addition to Bilal Katana, the registered companies' representative at the Ministry of National Economy, and Sa'id Abdullah, a partner at "Ernst & Young" Palestine, the external auditing firm.

Joudeh presented his report to the general assembly members for the past year 2025, outlining the main economic challenges and their impacts on business and investment activities, especially against the backdrop of declining key economic indicators such as rising unemployment rates, falling GDP, and decreasing exports. Joudeh also addressed the financial results of the fund, and the economic impact of the projects and investment programs it implements, announcing that the fund achieved a net profit of $7.6 million, while the value of the fund's assets increased by 6% to reach $935 million. Last year witnessed the largest bond issuance in Palestine’s history worth $150 million, reflecting the high confidence of the banking sector in the fund's financial position.

Strategic Projects That Made a Difference in 2025

The Jericho Cement Plant… A Sovereign Investment to Enhance Economic Security

Joudeh reviewed the Jericho Cement Factory project, which is considered one of the largest sovereign industrial investments implemented by the fund, with a total investment of $115 million. The project, located on an area of 240 dunams in Jericho, aims to provide a strategic stock of cement and cover about 50% of local market needs, which contributes to reducing dependence on imports and stabilizing the construction and infrastructure sector in Palestine.

Joudeh confirmed that the project represents a strategic step towards building a national industrial base capable of protecting the local market from fluctuations in supply and external prices.

The Health Sector… Localizing Treatment within Palestine

In the health sector, the opening of the Oncology Consulting Center last year in the presence of President Mahmoud Abbas marked a qualitative leap in providing treatment services within Palestine. Throughout 2025, it provided radiation and nuclear treatment to over 1,500 patients, while more than 770 patients received chemotherapy, in addition to thousands of specialized treatment sessions, in a step that contributed to reducing medical referrals abroad and easing the financial burdens on patients and the Palestinian health system.

Joudeh also noted that through a strategic partnership with the Arab Hospitals Group, which manages facilities with a capacity of up to 450 beds, serving tens of thousands of patients annually, treatment services were provided to about 36,000 patients during the year 2025, achieving a saving of 30% compared to treatment outside Palestine, marking a steady acceleration in the development of essential services in the health sector.

Renewable Energy… Investments that Enhance Energy Independence

Regarding the renewable energy sector, in a step reflecting the strategic integration among major national institutions, 2025 witnessed the signing of a strategic partnership agreement to establish the "Taqa" company, an economic, investment, and development entity aimed at enhancing the renewable energy sector in Palestine. This partnership brought together three major Palestinian institutions, namely "Masader", the investment arm of the Palestinian Investment Fund in the energy sector, the Arab Palestinian Investment Company (APIC), and the Bank of Palestine Group.

The "Taqa" company will be responsible for developing, financing, and establishing medium to large-scale clean energy production plants, which will significantly contribute to enhancing the share of renewable energy in total local consumption while reducing dependence on imported energy sources that burden the national economy.

Joudeh also mentioned that the Fund's solar energy projects reached a total production capacity of 34.6 megawatts, with an annual production exceeding 50.4 million kWh, sufficient to meet the needs of more than 16,000 Palestinian homes.

Among the most prominent projects in this field is the Beit Lid Solar Energy Station in Tulkarem Governorate, which spans 55 dunams and includes 7,800 solar panels with a production capacity of 5.3 megawatts. The station achieved a savings of 3.4 million shekels in electricity bills during the year 2025 alone, with expectations of cumulative savings reaching 77.5 million shekels in the future, in addition to its role in reducing carbon emissions and enhancing the transition to clean energy.

The Jenin Industrial City… A Productive Base for the Palestinian Economy

The Jenin Industrial City emerged as one of the most significant strategic projects reviewed during the meeting, being the largest industrial infrastructure project in northern Palestine, aiming to create an integrated industrial environment capable of attracting local, regional, and international investments. The year 2025 marked a differentiating year with the completion of the first phase of the project, which reached 45%, preparing 54 investment plots, while the city is expected to attract investments worth $140 million and provide around 5,000 permanent job opportunities upon the completion of all phases of the area, which enhances the competitiveness of Palestinian national products and supports the shift towards a more independent productive economy.

Al-Rabi' Feed Factory… A Model for National Industry and Food Security

In the national production sector, Joudeh clarified that the upward performance of the Al-Rabi' Feed Factory has become a national model for modern Palestinian industry. In just 20 months of operation, the factory succeeded in producing 28,000 tons of various feeds, achieving a market share of 5.5% during the year 2025, with expectations to rise to 7% in the upcoming phase.

The project contributed to reducing the feed import bill by nearly 10%, equivalent to about $68 million, which supports Palestinian farmers and enhances national food security.

Telecommunications and the Digital Economy

In the telecommunications sector, the year 2025 witnessed some developments related to Ooredoo Palestine, including reaching a historic settlement regarding licensing fees with the Palestinian government, along with progress in launching 4G services in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Additionally, "Mada Al-Arab" continued to expand fiber optic networks across various governorates, achieving a 30% annual growth in subscribers, which enhances Palestine's readiness for digital transformation and supports vital sectors, notably the banking sector.

Community Investments to Enhance Resilience

In 2025, the fund's community interventions continued in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, which included support for small projects, financing initiatives in education, energy, agriculture, and relief, along with supporting dozens of community institutions, as part of the fund's vision to enhance the economic and social resilience of the Palestinian citizen.

The general assembly also discussed the Board of Directors' report for the year 2025, listened to the fund's auditor report for the fiscal year ending 31/12/2025, and approved the final accounts of the fund.

At the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Iyad Joudeh, extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas for his continued support of the fund and his unwavering confidence in its national and developmental role. He also appreciated the support of the Palestinian government under the leadership of Dr. Mohamed Mustafa, for its efforts to enhance the resilience of the national economy under the current exceptional circumstances. Joudeh expressed his appreciation for the general assembly members, the board of directors, the executive management, and the fund's teams and various companies, confirming that the achievements of the past year are the result of teamwork and effective national partnerships with various institutions, the private sector, and local and international partners who all contributed to transforming the fund's projects into developmental success stories that touch the lives of citizens and enhance their confidence in the Palestinian economy and its future.

It is worth mentioning that the general assembly of the fund consists of several prominent figures, including board members, with representatives from various sectors and specializations; public and private institutions, civil society, and academics who represent the shareholders. The general assembly meets annually in the presence of the registered companies' representative, and general assembly members are appointed by a decision from the President of the State of Palestine according to the bylaws.