Private sector support

A U.S. contractor, assisted by America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST), will implement the project, which will target firms involved in labor-intensive production of consumer goods, food processing, and production of inputs for local/regional manufacturers of final goods. Training will consist primarily of 1-2 week courses and workshops in general management skills, such as marketing, finance and accounting, personnel development, and company management. Some technical training will be provided as well. The training will target senior and mid-level managers, and will be conducted in cooperation with university business centers, probably Birzheit University, the University of Bethlehem, and Najah University in Nablus in the West Bank, and Al-Azhar University in Gaza. AMIDEAST will play a major role in implementing this component, which also includes a limited amount of training for business associations and U.S. training for Palestinian business managers. In all, about 300 managers will receive training. The TA component will focus on firm- or industry-specific TA in, e.g., equipment procurement and maintenance, quality control, environmental protection and pollution prevention, plant design, and production technologies. TA sources will include both outside experts and local Palestinian consultants. Some 100 TA assignments with individual firms are targeted. To alleviate the almost complete dearth of market and business information in West Bank and Gaza, the project will develop and disseminate information on market conditions and opportunities, operating costs, business laws and regulations, and business support services and institutional structures. The contractor will prepare informational materials (e.g., pamphlets, brochures, databases, audiovisual materials) and disseminate them, principally via business associations. The services of the project will be demand driven, open to all non-agricultural firms, and provided on a fee basis, so that a least a major portion of the local costs will be recovered. At the end of the first year, an additional component may be added, in which up to ten firms will be selected for a comprehensive 24-month program of training and TA. Amendment of 11/10/93 expands the project to include assistance to service firms, particularly in the trade and tourism sectors. This change stems from the improved political and security conditions expected to result from the signing of the Palestinian/Israeli Peace Accord. (PD-ABJ-354)