Ramallah - The PMA, through the "Monshati" platform in partnership with the Ma'an Development Center, has launched the "Stand Together" initiative to assist project owners affected by the political and economic crisis, in dealing with the exceptional circumstances the country has been facing for the fourth consecutive month.

The initiative aims to strengthen commercial ties for micro, very small, small, and medium enterprises, targeting sectors such as food industries, handicrafts, and agricultural projects in Ramallah, Jericho, and Jenin.

This initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Economy, Federation of Chamber of Commerce, several chambers of commerce, municipalities, and the customs authority.

It's one of three initiatives launched with partners of "Monshati," including the Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with the Polytechnic University of Hebron, Palestinian Agricultural Relief, and the Ma'an Development Center.

During the launch of the initiative, the representative of the PMA, Mr. Mahmoud Barhoum, emphasized the ongoing interest of the PMA in supporting and developing economic projects of all types and sizes by facilitating their access to financing sources and providing technical support. He explained that over the past three years, the "Monshati" platform has been the primary national framework for providing guidance, and technical and administrative support to enterprises, facilitating their access to financing sources through a wide network of partners in both the public and private sectors. Barhoum also noted that last month, the PMA launched the Estidama Fund + to help and support various sectors in recovering from the political and economic crisis, focusing on healthcare, clean energy, and agriculture.

So far, about 3,000 enterprises have benefited from the Estidama Fund +, with a total of USD 160 million. On her part, the representative of Ma'an Development Center, Ms. Ghada Al-Qadoumi, emphasized the importance of the initiative and its intended objectives, explaining that it represents a vital step towards enhancing the readiness of micro, very small, small, and medium-sized enterprises affected in the targeted governorates to maintain their resilience in the face of economic and social challenges, aiming to support and strengthen the resilience of Palestinian families amidst the current political circumstances and challenges.

Al-Qadoumi highlighted the importance of enhancing the capacity to use effective marketing tools to deepen their connection with customers, focusing efforts on expanding the reach of these enterprises in local markets by strengthening commercial ties and enhancing communication with local customers.

As part of a sustainable marketing strategy, the initiative intends to conduct targeted awareness campaigns for customers in the local market through short educational and awareness videos targeting end customers about the importance of supporting local products. In addition, it plans to design digital catalogs and informational infographics for local enterprises and improve packaging labels to enhance the attractiveness and awareness of local products in local markets and achieve sustainable business success.