October 2011

HEAdlines

Main report: The European Parliament voted unanimously in favour of a trade agreement with the West Bank and Gaza. It gives direct, duty-free and mostly quota-free access to the European market for Palestinian agricultural products, processed agricultural products, fish and fishery products.

PADICO Holding announced the successful closure of the first Palestinian corporate bonds issuance with a $15m surplus subscription over the $70m offered.

Following difficulties earlier in the year, the PA paid the entire August and September salaries to its 150,000 employees.

PCBS released the results of a new tourism survey. In 2010 the number of inbound and domestic visitors reached 4.9m marking a major increase of 88% compared with 2009.