Lang
The Palestinian Federation of Food and Agriculture Industries held a meeting at its headquarters in the city of Al-Bireh, also conducted via Zoom, with the participation of the federation's Director-General, Bassam Abu Alyoun, and the Director-General of the Palestinian Olive Oil Council, Fayyad Fayyad, alongside a number of Palestinian companies engaged in olive oil production and processing, as well as mill owners. The meeting was held to discuss joint ideas and interventions that could be pursued with ministries and official bodies to strengthen and protect Palestine's olive oil production sector.
The federation's director welcomed the participants, stressing the importance of preserving the olive sector and promoting the local product in a way that reinforces the Palestinian identity of olive oil, through cooperation among the various stakeholders. The meeting covered the key issues affecting the sector, including domestic trade and the availability of supplies for Palestinian consumers, the potential impact on local production, export plans, the challenges facing farmers and mills, as well as the directives and instructions issued by the Ministry of Agriculture to regulate the operation of olive presses.
This meeting forms part of ongoing efforts to support the local product, following up on the earlier meeting held with the Minister of National Economy, Engineer Mohammad Al-Amour, regarding the olive oil production sector. At the close of the meeting, it was agreed to prepare a position paper containing data on the quantities available from the previous season held by companies, mills and the Palestinian market, along with projected needs, as well as practical recommendations and proposals to be submitted to the Minister of National Economy.
Participants underlined the need to take measures that help strengthen the Palestinian olive oil sector, given its status as one of Palestine's most important exports and a symbol of national identity in global markets.