Ambassador meets officials of Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Palestine

Sri Lanka Ambassador in Palestine Fawzan Anver met leading manufacturers at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Palestine recently. 

Omar Hashim, Chairman of the Chamber welcomed and thanked Ambassador Fawzan Anver for this important visit to the city of Nablus in Palestine.

He gave a detailed presentation on the history of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Palestine and the important role that the Chamber represents in taking care of the interests of the private and different economic sectors, and the services sector provided by the prominent role of the chamber in many of the institutions. Also Hashim explained regarding the modern technology and contribution to providing a promising investment environment, with increased attention to education and vocational training, and working on businessmen capabilities, and to promote the national product development.

Hashim also explained the industry in Palestine which is distributed into four industrial zones including all economic sectors such as, metal, chemical, paper, plastic, programming and information technology, food, wood, leather, stone, marble and others. 

Ambassador Fawzan Anver further encouraged closer ties between Palestine and Sri Lanka, especially on the economic level. He said that many delegations from Palestine visited Sri Lanka in recent years, where some of them were interested to invest in Sri Lanka; likewise he mentioned Sri Lanka’s need for certain goods from Palestine such as stones for building and olive oil, cosmetics, facial products. This visit is a great significance to create an opportunity of trade exchange between the private sectors in both countries and to serve the members of the general authority of traders and businessmen. 

Fawzan visited a number of economic establishments in Nablus Palestine including the Headquarters of the Aluminium for Profiles (NAPCO) Company, and met its Director-General Annan Anabtawi in the presence of the company officials and administrators. Anabtawi gave a comprehensive presentation about the company, its inception, its products both the domestic and foreign markets, the invested capital, obstacles to work, and the share (NAPCO) in the domestic market, the number of employees in the company, noting that it includes a selection of the Palestinian professional skills, in addition to reviewing Group of sectors working (APEC) at (NAPCO), one of its investments. Anabtawi also briefed about the future plans of his company. 

He also visited Al-Kholoud Furniture Factory Inc., where the Chairman of the Board of Directors Firas Alqataloni briefed about the company which is specialised in producing all kinds of furniture and home furnishings, that is one of the largest home businesses in this important economic sector; in addition to that it’s considered as a competition for all types of imported furniture in terms of quality, durability and types of wood also were discussed, and how professional the Palestinian and creativity in production, Firas was expressing his desire and interest in investing and having a factory in Sri Lanka in the near future.

At the Al-Arz Ice-cream Factory the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber Zahi Anabtawi, gave a detailed explanation of the company since the beginning of its start in 1950, and the evolution of over the years. Al-Arz is the largest ice cream factory in Palestine, and the largest share through the local market, in addition to exporting for many foreign markets in the last 10 years in the Arab world. Anabtawi discussed the prospects for joint economic action at all levels, in terms of finding a Sri Lankan partners, or to export to the Sri Lanka, or to find sources of raw materials for the factory. Fawzan Anver expressed his admiration for the management of the all the companies and factories of Palestine for their excellent arrangements for the visit. Also he encouraged them to visit Sri Lanka in order to discuss joint economic opportunities between the two countries. Finally he said that he would like to see the Palestinian products in the Sri Lankan market and more Sri Lankan products in the Palestinian market at the earliest opportunity.

They also wished to visit Sri Lanka in the near future in order to explore possibilities to invest in Sri Lanka and also to promote trade exchange between the two countries.