GAZA, March 13, 2007, (WAFA)-Palestinian Trade Association (PALTRADE) said that exports leaving the Gaza Strip through the Karni crossing do not meet the minimum requirements of the Palestinian economy.

In its monthly report monitoring activity at the crossing, PALTRADE revealed that there is insufficient commerce passing through Karni to successfully restart the Palestinian economy in the Gaza Strip.

According to the monitoring report, the crossing was open for 22 days in February and was closed on two days for security reasons - once by Israeli authorities and another time by the Palestinians.

The traffic of goods at the crossing, measured in truckloads, reached its peak during the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on 19 February.

PALTRADE said that on average in February, a total of 56.3 truckloads of exports crossed during a working day, and 407.8 loads of imports entered Gaza through Karni.

According to the World Bank, which supports the activities of PALTRADE ,the minimum required to jump-start the Palestinian economy in the Gaza Strip is 150 truckloads of exports per day. Most of the exports from Gaza were agricultural produce, vegetables and strawberries, and the main products imported were construction materials.

M.H.(11:50 P)(09:50 GMT)