RAMALLAH, January 17, 2011 (WAFA) – A workshop held in Ramallah last week on an investment survey discussed Palestinian investment abroad and foreign investments in Palestine.

Palestinian investments abroad exceeded foreign investments in Palestine by three times, according to indicators presented by Fuad Rayyan, director of the department of finance and government in the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

Although foreign investments in Palestine have positive economic effects, foreign companies are the first to leave the Palestinian territory whenever political and economic disturbance occurs.

However, Samir Huleileh, PADICO CEO, said that legal obstacles to foreign investments especially in regard to taxes and the transfer of land ownership are some of the reasons why foreign investors stay away.

Huleileh stressed the necessity of activating the role of government in responding to the demands of investors and overcoming obstacles facing them.

The workshop was organized by the Palestinian Economists Association, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and the Palestine Monetary Authority.

It called for the need for higher attention to foreign investments, overcoming obstacles and creating an investment environment that helps reduce the flight of foreign investments from the Palestinian territory.

T.R.