Work in progress
PSC is currently working on delivering:
1. Workshops and study tours to enhance the technical capacity
of PSC staff and familiarise PSC members and the shippers’
community with the different aspects of trade facilitation
and the role of the PSC therein.
2. Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and agreements with
relevant private sector institutions to obtain competitive
shipping rates and favourable conditions for Palestinian
shippers.
3. An information and dissemination network on port and
border crossing regulations, activity, charges and
conditions for PSC members.
4. A database on customs tariff duties and regulations
will be integrated into the PSC information and
dissemination network.
5. Efforts to extend public outreach and establish
practical and operational channels for representing
Palestinian shippers’ interests at national and
international levels.
Palestinian trade facilitation efforts
The devastating
impact of the Israeli closure policy and mobility
restrictions on the Palestinian economy cannot be over-emphasised.
In looking at trade facilitation efforts one should bear in
mind that:
§ the
Palestinian market is a main market for Israeli companies;
§
the
share of trade deficit with Israel, in total Palestinian
trade deficit increased from 67 % in 2002 to 72 % in 2005;
§
the
textiles sector among the sectors that were hard hit;
§
the
closing of the Al Montar (Karni) Crossing means that
merchandise worth tens of millions of shekels is stuck in
the Gaza Strip; and
§ thousands
of Palestinian families are losing their livelihood.
Yet another major
consequence of the Israeli policy is shortages in food
supplies. This is particularly the case of Gaza, which
requires 450 million tons (MT) of wheat per day to maintain
bread supplies. The usual 30-60 day wheat stock kept in Gaza
is exhausted. Other basic food commodities are in extremely
short supply, including dairy products and fruit. Rice and
sugar are selling at more than twice their normal price and
are also very difficult to find in stores.
Al Montar (Karni)
crossing is the only source to import large-scale quantities
of wheat and the commercial terminal for imports and exports
of goods from Israel. As of today, the crossing has been
closed for more than 70% of this year. In comparison, in
2005, it was closed for a total of 18% of the year and 19%
of the year in 2004.
Israeli textile
companies have also raised concern over the closing of Al
Montar (Karni). They state seasonal merchandise (valued at
approximately 50 million shekels) contracted to 20 Gazan
sewing factories, is stuck at the crossing. Unable to meet
contract requirements in Israel and abroad, the fate of the
Palestinian enterprises is bleak.
According to
Israeli sources, “Kerem Shalom” a commercial crossing in the
southern tip of Gaza has opened as an alternative point of
access for imported commercial goods and export products.
This crossing point has only a fraction of the capacity of
the Al Montar (Karni) and is not at all equipped to handle
the approximately 450 MT of wheat needed in Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority has so far refused the offer to
use this crossing point, citing its wider political
concerns. Meanwhile, the Palestinian-Israeli Agreement on
Movement and Access (AMA) is yet to be implemented. |
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