Project on the Revitalization of the Erez Industrial Estate

(EIE) Neslihan Kaptanoğlu13 September, 2005

Bahrain

e c o n o m i c p o l i c y r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t ee k o n o m i p o l i t i k a l a r ı a r a ş t ı r m a e n s t i t ü s ü

Erez Initiative Slide 2

Disengagement Process from the Gaza Strip need to

empower Palestinians

unilateral dis-engagement decision

increased importance of the region

initiative of the Quartet

importance of Erez for positive expectations

Erez Initiative Slide 3

Ankara Forum Established in April 2005 as an

ongoing dialogue mechanism among business support organizations from Israel-Turkey and Palestine

Partners: TOBB, Federation of Palestinian Chambers and Israeli Manufacturer’s Association

Second meeting was held in East Jerusalem on June 7-8, 2005

Two working groups were formed on: Tourism Opportunities The Revitalization of the Erez

Industrial Estate (EIE) Goal:

Promoting business to business contributions to the peace process

Starting with small steps and finding local solutions to problems

Erez Initiative Slide 4

Why are we in it? International recognition of TOBB Our experience with industrial zones in

Turkey Turkey’s increasing visibility in the

region Possible economic benefits

Erez Initiative Slide 5

Revitalization of the EIE (1) Visits to the region on June 27-29 and

July 26-29, 2005

Following people are among those who were contacted:

Shimon Perez (Deputy Prime Minister of Israel)

Mazen T. Sinokrot (Minister of National Economy-Palestinian Authority)

Mr. Wolfensohn’s Core Group World Bank Stef Wertheimer- Tefen Technopark Israeli Manufacturer’s Association Federation of Palestinian

Chambers Palestinian Industrial Estates and

Free Zones Authority (PIEFZA) Military administration of Erez

Estate

Erez Initiative Slide 6

Support of the Quartet and Mr. Wolfensohn was formulated during his visit to Ankara in July 2005

Pre-Feasibility Report on the EIE A Questionnaire was

prepared by TOBB and answered by PIEFZA and the Israeli authorities

The estate was visited by the TOBB delegation including an infrastructure specialist

Preparations are made to draft an agreement for mutual understanding

Project on the Revitalization of the EIE (2)

Erez Initiative Slide 7

Project on the Revitalization of the EIE (3) Capacity building programs for the Palestinian chamber-

system and organized industrial estate-related personnel in Turkey- 4-10 September, 2005. Training on issues such as: Chamber management and income resources of the chambers Turkish Chamber Quality System and Chamber Accreditation

System TOBB-Eurochambres Joint Projects Promotion of International Trade Services Arbitration and Chambers

Places Visited: Istanbul Chamber of Commerce; Istanbul Chamber of Industry; Gebze Organized Industrial Zone; Gebze Chamber of Commerce; Kocaeli Chamber of Industry; Bursa Organized Industrial Zone; selected plant facilities in Kocaeli and Bursa

This capacity building program is also in affiliation with TOBB’s Project on Promoting Business Development in the MENA region, which was presented at the OECD MENA Investment Program meeting in Paris on April 2005

Erez Initiative Slide 8

Things to be Done in the Short Term Further contacts with Wolfensohn’s Group

to coordinate between our initiative and their Action Plan

Contacts with the G8 and the World Bank to attract foreign investment to the EstateFree Trade AgreementsIncentives and investment promotions

Details related to management of the EIE Establishing a developer company

(reflecting the tripartite structure of the Ankara Forum)

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Israel regarding the services to be provided in the Estate

Infrastructure Projects