RAMALLAH, May 21, 2026 (WAFA) – Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa met Thursday, at his office in Ramallah, with Aftab Ahmed, the Regional Director for the Middle East at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to discuss mechanisms for enhancing the IFC's programs and activities in Palestine.
The meeting was also attended by Stephen Amblad, the World Bank Country Director for Palestine, Rafif Darwish, the IFC Country Director for Palestine, Ayman Ismail, Head of the Palestinian Energy Authority, and Raed Muqbel, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Local Government.
The meeting addressed several vital sectors that the IFC focuses on in its programs and projects within Palestine, which it leads in partnership with the Palestinian private sector, including renewable energy, solid waste management, digital transformation, healthcare, energy efficiency, and green buildings.
Mustafa emphasized that the government is working to provide a suitable environment for investment and to encourage development and productive projects, particularly in the health, energy, and digital transformation sectors in order to improve services and strengthen economic and environmental sustainability.
He affirmed that the government will continue to provide all necessary facilities to developers and companies interested in implementing development projects, provided they demonstrate seriousness and a willingness to invest and develop.
The Prime Minister commended the International Finance Corporation's role in supporting the Palestinian private sector by providing financing and technical expertise, and contributing to the development of strategic projects with economic, developmental, and environmental dimensions.
He also praised the World Bank's "exceptional" support for Palestine, noting that the amount of support provided has reached nearly $300 million annually since the formation of the 19th government. He considered this an unprecedented development in the scale and nature of the World Bank's work in Palestine, whether through financing development projects or supporting vital sectors and essential services.
The meeting discussed efforts to accelerate and develop the solid waste-to-energy project, particularly the "Zahrat al-Finjan" project, which is considered a leading strategic project in Palestine. This project is crucial for improving solid waste management and converting it into a source of alternative energy, thereby contributing to reducing environmental impact and promoting reliance on renewable energy sources.
For his part, Aftab Ahmed reaffirmed the IFC’s commitment to supporting key development projects in Palestine, particularly in the sectors of healthcare, energy, and digital transformation, while highlighting the strength of the IFC’s project portfolio in Palestine compared to several other countries in the region.
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