Special points of interest

Inside this issue

Achievements

PSC’s Achievements to-date includes:

	New members have been recruited, increasing the membership to 145 companies.
	The PSC was mandated by the Ministry of National Economy (MoNE) to negotiate with the Israeli Ministry of Trade and Industry for the benefit of restoring the annual milk quota (1,000 tons) for Palestinian importers. The Israeli Ministry granted this quota to the Palestinians, with an agreement to distribute it in accordance with the percentages established last year.
	The PSC has been engaged in reducing the costs associated with renting storage areas at the main borders between Gaza and Israel. The continuous Israeli closure of Al Montar (Karni) commercial crossing point has been inflating costs for Palestinian traders, who are forced to rent storage areas at prohibitive prices. This was, for example, the case of the Gaza-based Balousha Fashion Company that rented a storage area at a warehouse at Ashdod port (Bonded 207) for its forty feet container at a prohibitive fee, equivalent to 15% of the market value of the stored goods. These costs come on top of handling costs, including the unloading of the shipment, demurrage cost, pallets, forklift and storage. The company's owner approached the PSC for assistance after weeks of fruitless attempts through his agent to reduce the storage fees. The PSC succeeded in obtaining a 38% discount following a series of negotiations with the relevant authorities (visit website for detailed reports).
	The PSC's institutional website (www.psc.ps) is updated regularly with the Council’s activities, and includes daily updates of the status and cargo movement at Al-Montar (Karni) crossing point and regular updates of vessels schedules.
	Laws, regulations, and procedures applicable to Palestinian imports and exports are being disseminated to members.
	PSC is receiving extensive media coverage in regards of activities and achievements in the main local newspapers, in addition to publications in magazines.
	Meetings were conducted with relevant parties to obtain competitive shipping rates and predictable transport conditions for PSC members.
	Two workshops were held separately; in Hebron and in Tulkarem Chambers of Commerce on PSC’s activities & services
	Members’ Database was developed and linked to the website.

Outreach

PSC is now a member of the Palestinian Private Sector Co-ordination Council, and is considered as the focal point for regional coordination in the area of shipping. The Council has been invited to represent Palestinian importers and exporters in several workshops on trade facilitation, has established contact with the Japan Shippers’ Council, and met with officials at the Israeli Ministry of Trade to handle several cases related to Beitunia commercial crossing point and the treatment of Palestinian goods during the transfer process at the borders with Israel. PSC has established strategic partnerships with the following institutions:

1.  PA Ministry of National Economy.

2.  Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA).

3.  Palestinian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

4.  Palestinian Integrated Trade Arrangement project (PITA).

5.  Haifa and Ashdod Ports.

6.  Zim Line Management in Haifa.

7.  Peres Center for Peace.

8.  Israeli Shippers’ Council (ISC).

9.  European Shippers' Council (ESC).

Enhancing PSC's outreach and avenues for extending its strategic alliances were also at the core of discussions with the Gaza Businessmen Association, Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Israeli Authorities at Bet El, Globus Packaging Company, the Israeli Chamber of Commerce in Tel Aviv, Israeli Federation of Forwarders and Customs Clearing Agents (IFFCCA) and New Log Company.