Thursday marked a milestone for Palestine at the United Nations. For the first time, President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the U.N. General Assembly representing the state of Palestine, which was granted non-member observer state status in 2012. While Palestine struggles to achieve a peace deal with Israel, we take a closer look at what life is like for the entrepreneurs looking to build Palestine’s economy. We talk with four Palestinian executives about their work, and about how conflict, politics and policy affect their businesses.
In Palestine, Growing a Business Amid Conflict and Uncertainty
Guests:
Ammar Aker, CEO and member of the board of directors of the Palestine Telecom Group and member of the board of the Palestine Development and Investment Company (PADICO Holding)
Nafez Husseini, vice president of ICT & Digital Business of the Greece-based Consolidated Contractors Company, the largest construction company in the Middle East, and a key founding member of the Palestine Education Initiative
Sabri Saidam, adviser to the Palestinian president on telecommunications, information technology and technical education; he introduced the second mobile phone operator in Palestine, and founded the Palestine Digital Library in 2004
Zahi Khouri, founder, chairman and CEO of the Palestinian National Beverage Company, and chairman of a number of boards including the Jerusalem Development and Investment Company and the Palestine Tourism & Investment Company