Bi-weekly Report June 10-21, 2012

The project's primary objective was to increase the sector's productivity, efficiency, and market access. The project's scope encompassed the entire agricultural value chain, from production to export. During the reporting period, June 10th to June 21st, the project team facilitated Palestinian participation in the 58th Summer Fancy Food Show in Washington, DC. The show, which took place from June 17th to June 19th, is the largest specialty food show in North America, attracting over 24,000 visitors and 2,400 exhibitors from 80 countries. The Palestinian Pavilion featured four export companies and one walker, showcasing a range of high-quality products, including fair trade olive oil, olive oil tapenade, Medjool dates, unique natural salt, and traditional Palestinian cuisine. The Palestinian exhibitors reported over 200 serious business leads and several promising contracts for mixed containers. Additionally, several Palestinian exhibitors were approached to endorse their products by the White House Guest Chef, and samples were arranged for further tasting. The Palestinian cooking station offered visitors a taste of local Palestinian cuisine, promoting the country's fine cuisine. The project team also conducted a CIBER assessment of the agriculture sector, which aimed to identify constraints to competition and revenue increase. Meetings with stakeholders and service providers were held to measure constraints in the short, medium, and long term. The assessment will be completed in July, and a workshop will be organized on July 10th in Jericho to present the findings to all stakeholders. Furthermore, the project team met with the owner of the Al Salam Group, the largest producer of frozen fruit, vegetables, and meat in the country. Discussions centered on contract growing with local farmers, crop diversification, and the implementation of demo plots for crops such as strawberries, garlic, and herbs. The project will assist Al Salam in implementing demo plots and providing new equipment to process these produce. The project also collaborated with the Plant Protection Inspection Services (PPIS), a department of the Ministry of Agriculture, to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU aims to provide a framework for cooperation between Compete and the PPIS, focusing on the provision of inspection tools and training to enhance quality control on export and increase market access.