Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah inspecting the production line of the new Al-Tayf dairy company. (WAFA Images) 

TULKARM, Saturday, January 26, 2019 (WAFA) – Palestinian exports, and for the first time, have exceeded the $1 billion mark and reached 80 countries despite Israeli restrictions and obstructions, Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said on Saturday.

“I am proud to say that despite restrictions and measures by the occupation authority, our national exports, and for the first time, have exceeded the $1 billion mark and our national products have reached more than 80 countries around the world, and we were able to increase foreign investment in our county to $3.4 billion,” said Hamdallah speaking at an event launching the new dairy company, Al-Tayf Dairy and Food Products, in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm.

A subsidiary of National Beverage Company, local producer of Coca Cola, Al-Tayf is a Palestinian dairy company established in partnership with the French Candia milk producing company.

Hamdallah said his government has succeeded in reducing dependency on the Israeli economy as imports from Israel have declined by 20% coupled with a rise in the quality Palestinian production, explaining that over 45 companies have the ISO certificate of excellence, which makes it possible for these companies to export to world markets.

He said the Palestinian dairy companies supply 80% of the Palestinian market demand and have investments worth $70 million every year with daily production reaching 600 tons.

M.K.