RAMALLAH, April 19, 2010 (WAFA)- The U.S. Consul General, Daniel Rubenstein, said, today, that the delegation, composed of Palestinian business women and men, who will participate in the presidential summit to be hosted by U.S President Barack Obama in Washington April 26-27, 2010, is an essential element in the new Palestinian American partnerships and are the foundations of a Palestinian state.

In a speech following his meeting with a group of Palestinian business women and men selected by the White House to participate in the summit, he added that this opportunity is unprecedented in terms of strengthening ties between the United States and the Arab and Islamic world, and that he had no doubt that the delegation would best represent the Palestinian people and serve as inspiration entrepreneurs of the Palestinians.

The Consul-General said that this summit is the fulfillment of the promise made by President Obama of a new beginning and deepening of ties with Arab and Islamic worlds in his speech in Cairo, June 2009.

The summit, in which more than 250 female and male entrepreneurs from more than 50 countries, representing many religious backgrounds, and include entrepreneurs, social and economic and influential persons in the world of entrepreneurship, including eight Palestinian female and male entrepreneurs, from Jerusalem, Ramallah, Hebron, Tulkarm and Qalqilya.  

The outcomes of the summit, according to a statement by the consulate, are expected to be the creation of new programs and partnerships, and networks working to promote new business and social projects, deepen the links and new partnerships between business leaders, institutions and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Arab and Islamic societies around the world. The summit will focus on the important role played by the entrepreneurs in creating jobs and improving their communities, and will emphasize the goals of President Obama to support entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth.

Wa’ad Taweel, (20 years), an accounting and business administration sophomore at Birzeit University told WAFA, she had been selected to participate in the summit after founding, with her colleagues, the company Teen Touch for special occasions, and winning the Best Student Company award at the local level, and the best company and the best executive director at the regional level.

She said she would benefit from participation in the summit in founding her future she intends to embark on after graduating. She intends to establish an entertainment center containing a mini golf course, a library, a bowling alley among other things.

Dr. Raja’a Sarghali, said the importance of their participation in this summit stems from the importance of letting the world know of Palestinian women entrepreneurs, and their vision and their capabilities when they have necessary resources for their work.