Compete Project Monthly Report, October 2012

Key accomplishments included the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) between USAID and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and between Compete (DAI) and the Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI). These agreements aimed to strengthen cooperation and support the development of the Palestinian private sector. In the Agribusiness sector, USAID Compete conducted a comprehensive assessment of aquaculture farming in the West Bank to determine possible interventions. The assessment, led by international aquaculture specialist Dr. John Hargreaves, visited fish farms in Israel and several locations in the West Bank, including Jericho, Nablus, Qalqiliya, and Jenin. The goal of the assessment was to raise awareness about aquaculture and enhance future productivity in this practice. Meetings with key personnel from the MoA also took place to address local needs and identify ways of assisting fish farmers through innovative practices like aquaponics. On October 16, the project organized a workshop in Jericho for aquaculture stakeholders, including farming entrepreneurs and MoA staff from the Department of Fisheries. The workshop, led by Dr. Hargreaves, discussed various issues such as brood stock management, measuring oxygen, feed guidelines, and operation maintenance. The training enabled participants to learn new techniques that would improve their business. Nehaya Sabri, Engineer at Al Sabee nursery, stated that without the training, they would have never realized the solutions for large number of problems they normally face. The Ministry of Agriculture and USAID also signed a MoU on October 10, during a ceremony at the Movenpick Hotel in Ramallah. The celebration was attended by H.E Eng. Waleed Assaf, Minister of Agriculture, and Michael Harvey, USAID Mission Director, in addition to a number of officials and media representatives. In his address, Mr. Assaf expressed sincere thanks for USAID's generous support of the Ministry and the Palestinian Agriculture sector. USAID's Michael Harvey also affirmed that this cooperation is a clear demonstration of the strength of the strategic partnership between USAID and the Ministry. In the Tourism sector, USAID Compete finalized a plan for a series of in-service training that will be implemented jointly with the American Hotel and Lodging Association, in collaboration with the Arab Hotel Association (AHA) and the Holy Land Incoming Tour Operators Association (HILTOA). The training aims to enhance the skills of Palestinian tourism professionals and improve the competitiveness of the Palestinian tourism industry. The official opening of the Apple iOs Center of Excellence took place on October 4, 2012, in the presence of Mike Harvey, USAID/WBG Mission Director. The center received technical assistance and financial support from USAID Compete in partnership with Infinite Tires Inc. In the ICT sector, USAID Compete continued to support the development of the Palestinian ICT industry. The project organized a workshop on October 16 for aquaculture stakeholders, which was led by Dr. Hargreaves and discussed various issues related to aquaculture. The Compete Project also continued to support the development of the Palestinian private sector through various initiatives, including the upgrading of nurseries' facilities and grafting training. The project enlisted an international consultant to deliver a grafting training for three Palestinian nurseries, which aimed to enable Palestinian nurseries to comply with Global GAP, improve the quality of their seedlings, and meet local market demand from Palestinian farmers.