Under the patronage and presence of the Prime Minister
Signing two energy and information technology agreements with donors in the amount $ 73 million

30/06/2020

Under the patronage and presence of the Prime Minister

Signing two energy and information technology agreements with donors in the amount $ 73 million

 

Under the auspices and presence of the Prime Minister Dr. Muhammad Shtayyeh, a representative of the Palestinian side, Finance Minister Shukri Bishara, and a representative of donors, the World Bank's Regional Director Mr. Kanthan Shankar, signed two agreements in the field of energy and information technology, with a value of $ 73 million.

Under the auspices and presence of the Prime Minister Dr. Muhammad Shtayyeh, signed today, Tuesday, in the Prime Minister’s office in Ramallah, two agreements in the field of energy and information technology, with a value of $ 73 million.

The representative of the Palestinian side, the Minister of Finance Shukri Bishara, and the representative of donors, the World Bank's Regional Director Mr. Kanthan Shankar,

The first agreement is a project to develop the sustainability of performance and reliable infrastructure for the energy sector - the first stage, aims to develop the financial, operational and technical performance of energy sector institutions, and to increase the diversity of electricity resources in Palestine, which is worth $ 63 million, funded by the World Bank, Norway, and the European Union, Britain, through the DIFD Foundation

The second agreement is a $ 15 million "Technology for Adolescents and Jobs" project, funded by the World Bank. It aims to support the technology and information systems sector, within the framework of investing in infrastructure for the digital economy in Palestine, where it targets the private sector, and it will be implemented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

The Prime Minister said: “Today we signed two very important agreements. The first agreement will benefit the Palestinian Energy Authority and the Palestine Transport Company, as the draft agreement includes building a transmission line from Jericho to Ramallah in order to facilitate the import of electricity from Jordan to Palestine. It is important because it will work to rehabilitate Four power stations in Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah and Hebron, and the construction of five new stations as well, in addition to developing networks in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. "

 

Shtayyeh added: “It is also important for the project to support the construction of solar energy on public buildings such as hospitals, schools and ministries. This project includes the purchase of 20 thousand pre-meters in the areas benefiting from this project, and most importantly, this project provides $ 20 million in bank guarantees for energy investors. Solar panels from the private sector. "

The Prime Minister continued: "The second agreement is equally important if it is not the most important, as the IT project will create 1,000 jobs, 50% of which are for women. Also, it will create 750 training opportunities, 50% of which are for women as well. More importantly, the project includes an element that has a  Relationship with supporting 200 Palestinian companies working in information technology, which is owned by the Palestinian private sector, and will create networking between Palestinian companies and international companies, with contract values ​​of approximately $ 30 million.

For his part, Shankar congratulated the Palestinian government on these important projects and considered it a good opportunity to develop the infrastructure and create job opportunities in the field of technology with the distinct capabilities of Palestinian youth.

In turn, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Yitzhak Sidr said that an important part of the training in this project will be through specialists working in huge companies in the world, adding: "We will also work to attract these companies to open branches in Palestine, and this is a portal that the technological and digital effort carried out by our youth will be branded with a Palestinian brand And this will contribute to creating job opportunities and a bright future for our children. "

For his part, the President of the Energy Authority, Dhafer Melhem, stated, "The energy project comes to improve energy efficiency in Palestine, by dedicating the diversity of energy sources, instead of relying on a single source. In addition to rehabilitating the networks and nutrients leaving the transfer stations to the load centers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip." In addition to the project to improve and protect revenues, improve collection, reduce non-technical and technical losses, and support solar energy projects.

 

 

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