Launched by the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, and U.S. business leaders, the U.S.-Palestinian Partnership (UPP) focuses on creating economic opportunity for the Palestinian people and helping prepare Palestinian youth for the responsibilities of citizenship and good governance. UPP was launched to facilitate progress toward a two-state solution, wherein Israel and Palestine can live side by side, in peace, security and prosperity. By demonstrating a willingness to work with responsible Palestinian leaders and institutions, this partnership aims to increase support for a Palestinian leadership committed to peace and willing to negotiate the political compromises required to reach this important goal.
What's New
February 2: "Paving the Way for Palestinian Statehood"
UPP Co-chair and American Task Force on Palestine President Ziad Asali is interviewed regarding the Palestinian National Authority's new report "Palestine: Moving Forward, Priority Interventions for 2010."
2009 End of Year Report
With the closing days of 2009, the UPP Team has issued a progress report on the Partnership's successes and its plans for 2010 in the Information & Communication Technology, Hotel & Tourism and Agribusiness sectors.
December 22: European Investment Bank Supports Middle East VC Fund
The Partnership-supported Middle East Venture Capital Fund received a commitment of 5 million euros from the European Investment Bank. The pledge was announced at a signing ceremony with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and the Ministers of National Economy and Telecommunications and Information Technology. Prime Minister Fayyad, “Palestine is open for business. We support the Middle East Venture Capital Fund efforts to contribute to economic growth in Palestine and benefit from development of stronger business ties and shared experience with the outside world and thank the European Investment Bank for their trust in this project.”
Read the full release from the European Investment Bank.
September 22: Cisco Announces Outsourcing Program in Palestine
On September 22nd, 2009, Zika Abzuk, Cisco manager of corporate social responsibility and corporate affairs, together with Tareq Maya, CEO of Exalt and dr. Sabri Saidam, senior advisor to President Abbas, presented a case study highlighting the creation of a unique outsourcing program that encourages further development of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector in Palestine. The program helps to establish an ecosystem that encourages technology entrepreneurship by providing outsourcing research and development and engineering projects to Palestinian software development firms.
Watch a video about the outsourcing program.
September 22: UPP Stakeholders Discuss Plans for Future Programs
On September 22, 2009, UPP leadership met with members of the public, private and nonprofit sectors to discuss ways to create economic opportunities, to expand stakeholders for peace and to support the efforts of the U.S. Government to end the Arab-Israeli conflict. Working sessions were held to discuss the information and communication technology, hotel and tourism and agribusiness sectors and the opportunities within each for growth, new jobs and the possibility of sustained economic activity.