RAMALLAH, April 5, 2017 (WAFA) – The Industrial Estates and Free Zones Authority Wednesday announced a plan to open a direct road for industrial use only between the Jericho Industrial Park in the West Bank and the Shouneh Industrial Zone in Jordan.

Executive director Ali Shaath told Palestine TV in an exclusive interview that “The Civil Affairs Authority is negotiating the project in agreement with Israel and will be entirely funded by Japan at a cost of $25 million.”

He added that the project’s designs and special agreements are expected to be concluded in 2017 and the road is anticipated to be officially open within a year.

Companies and factories operating in the Palestinian industrial cities will use the road to export products to Jordan and then to the rest of the world. The road will also be used to import material essential for production by these companies and factories.

Palestinian officials hope the road would facilitate trucks’ travel and cut expenses, which would reflect on the consumer through reducing products’ prices in the market.

Shaath said Palestinian investors abroad, as well as Arab and international investors, will find in the industrial cities what they cannot find in other countries in terms of quality infrastructure and services, fast transactions and easy transfer of funds and goods.

M.N/M.H