RAMALLAH, September16, 2009(WAFA)-The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) disseminated the final findings of the Economic Surveys Series for the year 2008.

 PCBS covered the main economic activities practiced in the Palestinian Territory, including; Industry, Constructions, Internal trade, Transport, Storage and communications, and Services activities.  Data collection took place during the period  March, 22, 2009 – May, 28, 2009 on a sample composed of 9,555 enterprise, of which 6,050 in  the West Bank and 3,505 in Gaza Strip.

The surveys results reveal that, there are 97,242 enterprise operating in the covered economic activities, this number is distributed by economic activity as follows: industrial activities 15.0%, construction activities 0.5%, internal trade activities 59.6%, services activities 23.7%, and transport, storage and communications activities 1.2%.

During the year 2008, the number of persons engaged in these economic activities was 258,021 worker, this number is distributed by economic activity as follows: industrial activities 23.1%, internal trade activities 43.4%, services activities 28.5%. Whereas the percentage of persons engaged in construction activities was 1.7% , storage and communications activities was 3.3%.  The results indicated that the percentage of paid employees was 35.7% for male employees, and 12.8% for female employees, on the other hand the percentage of unpaid employees distributed as follows: 47.5% for male employees and 4.0% for female employees.

The results indicated that the value of output in the Palestinian Territory was                           US$ 5,199.1 million. This value was distributed by economic activity as follows: industrial activities, 39.6%; construction activities, 3.2%; internal trade activities 25.8%; services activities, 17.2%; and transport, storage and communications activities, 14.2%.

Regarding the other economic indicators, the surveys results indicate that the gross value added in the Palestinian Territory was US$ 3,384.1 million. This value was distributed by economic activity as follows: industrial activities, 28.6%; constructions activities, 1.5%; internal trade activities, 31.1%; services activities, 19.5%; and transport, storage and communications activities, 19.3%.

On the other side, the main findings of the surveys showed that Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) amounted to US$ 151.6 million, this value was distributed as follow: industrial activities 23.5%, construction activities 1.3%, internal trade activities 18.9%, services activities  30.2%, and transport, storage and communications activities  26.1%.