Bashar Masri: “I salute the workers and investors who defy the blockade of Gaza.”
Gaza, 17/01/2023
Bashar Masri visited Gaza Industrial Estate for the latest business developments in the factories after PADICO Holding completed the reconstruction of the facilities destroyed during the Israeli aggression against the Strip.
Masri stressed the importance of promoting the Industrial Estate and providing the appropriate investment environment to encourage investors to set up various factories that offer new jobs in the Gaza Strip, which suffers from the highest unemployment rates in the world.
He met with some investors in the Industrial Estate and discussed the importance of joint work and cooperation with all parties, which was translated into this achievement.
“I pay tribute to the workers and investors in the Gaza Strip who are defying the blockade and difficult conditions through hard work and dedication, making the way through to support the GDP in the Gaza Strip and revive the Palestinian national economy. Once again, Gaza reasserts that we Palestinians are able to build our economy.”
Mahmoud Daban, the owner of one of the Foam Line, one of the companies whose facility has been completely destroyed, commented: “The re-operation of the facility has been a difficult challenge, but the efforts made by PADICO in a short period of time has helped to overcome the difficulties of restarting the facility and maintaining the continuity of the livelihood of its employees.” He also appointed that “the presence of Chairman Masri with us today is another motive for us to continue this defying.”
Hazem Al-Ak’ouk, general manager of the Al-Ishara Electrical Systems, which is set to begin production in Gaza Industrial Estate soon, said: “Our decision to invest in Gaza Industrial Estate comes in conjunction with the Estate’s reconstruction, and represents a qualitative shift in terms of increasing production and improving quality.”
Gaza Industrial Estate employs thousands of Palestinian workers whose jobs have been exposed after the Estate’s facilities were destroyed. Still, reconstructing all destroyed facilities has increased confidence in the Industrial Estate, sustaining and increasing employment opportunities.
Zakaria Mushtaha, a worker in the Al-Sawafiri company that was completely destroyed, said: “I want to continue working and earn my livelihood, and I don’t think anyone wants to be unemployed or receive insufficient handouts to sustain support their families. We all strive for a decent life and thank the management of the Industrial Estate and factory owners for their efforts to sustain our jobs.”
Gaza Industrial Estate is one of the Gaza Strip’s most important economies. Today, it has a wide range of factories and industrial and commercial facilities, both local and international. The Estate also enjoys sustainable urban infrastructure, supportive services, and facilities management. It carries out diverse activities and works in various industrial sectors.
In recent years, Gaza Industrial Estate has suffered significant losses due to repeated shelling of the Gaza Strip, especially during the aggression on the strip in May 2021, which destroyed many industrial installations and infrastructure, including part of the solar power plant.
