USAID Compete Project Monthly Report, May 1 – May 31 2013

This program aims to improve the competitiveness of the Palestinian stone and marble sector. In the Agribusiness sector, the team distributed over 200,000 m2 of insect nets to 13 fresh herb growers on a cost-sharing basis. The nets are expected to increase production by 100 tons and enable the growers to comply with market demand and USDA requirements. Additionally, the Agribusiness team organized a workshop in Jericho to discuss the Saline Water Treatment system and announce the results of the 9-month experimental demonstrations at 5 field locations. The workshop was attended by 63 participants from the public and private sector agribusiness community. The Tourism sector made significant progress in May, with the team conducting pre-bid visits to the Burqin Church complex to assess the environmental aspects of work. The team also organized three workshops to raise awareness about newly introduced hotel classification standards within the tourism sector. Members of the Hotel Classification Joint Committee managed the workshops, which included local hoteliers, managers, investors, representatives from the Arab Hotel Association (AHA), Holy Land Incoming Tour Operators (HLITOA), and representatives from MoTA. The tourism team signed a grant for future cooperation with the AHA to assist capacity building activities for Hotel Classification assessors who will start awarding hotel star-ratings in June. In the ICT sector, the team launched the Export Manager for Hire Program, which aims to help Palestinian companies expand and reach new markets. The program will hire Business Sales Development Consultants located in target markets to help generate and finalize sales leads. Additionally, USAID Compete signed a grant with the Palestinian Information Technology Association (PITA) to begin implementing the new Employability Program, which addresses the lack of skilled labor in the Palestinian market. The Diaspora activity's communication platform has been re-branded as "GloPal," aiming to connect Palestinian ICT companies and startups with diaspora living in the U.S. The Compete Project's progress in May demonstrates its commitment to improving the competitiveness of the Palestinian economy. The project's focus on key sectors such as Agribusiness, Tourism, and ICT is expected to have a positive impact on the Palestinian economy and improve the livelihoods of Palestinian citizens. The project's achievements in May include the distribution of insect nets to fresh herb growers, the organization of workshops on hotel classification standards, and the launch of the Export Manager for Hire Program. These achievements demonstrate the project's ability to implement its activities and achieve its objectives. The Compete Project's success in May is a testament to the project's ability to work effectively with stakeholders and implement its activities in a timely manner. The project's focus on capacity building and skills development is expected to have a lasting impact on the Palestinian economy and improve the livelihoods of Palestinian citizens. The project's achievements in May are a significant step towards achieving its overall objective of improving the competitiveness of the Palestinian economy. The project's continued progress and achievements are expected to have a positive impact on the Palestinian economy and improve the livelihoods of Palestinian citizens.