January 2011

HEAdlines

Main reports: The US has launched a new Palestinian Information Communications Technology Capacity Building Initiative (PITI) in partnership with large multinationals, including Cisco, Google, HP, Intel, Medcor and Salesforce.com.

On 22 December the EU agreed to allow all Palestinian agricultural products duty free access to the European market. This is in addition to existing agreements, which give Palestinian industrial goods duty free access.

Over the Christmas period Bethlehem witnessed the highest number of visitors over the last ten years. There were 90,000 visitors and all hotels were fully booked.

Figures from the Palestinian Monetary Authority show that bank credit reached $2.85bn in 2010, an increase of over 30% since 2009. Loans were provided across several sectors with trade financing and construction receiving the greatest amount of credit.