Governor Opens Three Bank of Palestine Branches and Holds Meeting with Palestinian Contractors Union

 
H.E. Governor Shawwa commended the Bank of Palestine for making steady and confident strides towards excellence in banking, adding that the bank is considered an initiative-taker with respect to social responsibility and professional development. He pointed out that the Bank of Palestine has set the unique precedent at the level of Palestinian banks of launching financial, advisory and investment services to Palestinian expatriates in the Gulf region, after it opened its first representative office in Dubai in the UAE.

The Governor of the PMA added that the Bank of Palestine currently occupies a leading position in the Palestinian bank sector with total assets that constitute 25 per cent of banking system total assets and deposits that constitute about 23 per cent of the customer deposit total.   

From his side, Mr. Alaa Al Radwan, Deputy General Manager at the Bank of Palestine, expressed his thanks to H.E. Governor of the PMA for the efforts he and the PMA make to develop and strengthen the Palestinian banking system, as well as to keep abreast with recent banking developments.   

Mr. Al Radwan said that, with the opening of the three bank branches in the GS today, the total number of Bank of Palestine branches rises to 61 branches and representative offices spread across the governorates of Palestine, offering the full range of financial and banking service. He noted that this affirms the bank’s commitment to continuous development and investment in our Palestinian homeland and also to the effective provision of its financial services to customers wherever they may be. 

H.E. the Governor held at PMA headquarters a meeting with representatives of the bankers’ association, where several issues of concern were discussed, such as activating the association’s role, its future operation, the development of its by-laws and the possibility of deriving benefit from the experience of the union of Arab Bankers.
The Governor also visited the Palestine Avenir For Childhood Foundation where he met with its management and staff. Governor Shawwa received a detailed presentation on the foundation’s work and became familiar with the services it offers to citizens. He was also briefed about its needs which ensure it sustains operations and continues to deliver its services. 

Afterwards, the Governor visited the Gaza Athletic Club where he was received by Mr. Mousa Al Wazir and other club members and was briefed on the club’s activities. The Governor expressed his admiration for the contribution of the Club to society and to youth in particular. 

H.E. the Governor then held a meeting with the Palestinian Contractors Union. In his speech Mr. Usama Qheil, the Union’s President, welcomed the Governor, the President of the Contractors Union in the West Bank, Mr. Marwan Jom’ah and the accompanying delegation, praising the attention that the PMA and its Governor devotes to all economic sectors and the keenness to communicate with everyone and learn about the problems they face, in particular with regard to dealing with the banks.   

H.E. Governor of the PMA noted that the PMA has managed to face challenges by boosting confidence in the banking system, adding that the banking system enjoys robustness and strength, with total customer deposits reaching USD 10.6 billion and total assets USD 12.4 billion by end of Q1 2016. 

In his speech, Governor Shawwa called upon the banks, on one hand, and the Palestinian Contractors Union, businessmen and merchants, on the other hand, to earnestly and transparently address all issues and problems that disrupt relations between them in order to resolve their differences in the best possible manner beneficial to all. He affirmed PMA’s readiness to offer help to achieve such an outcome, emphasizing that the banks play a vital role in promoting and developing the national economy.   

It is worth mentioning that this extended tour conducted by H.E. Azzam Shawwa, Governor of the PMA, and an accompanying delegation from the West Bank, is the third tour within six months. The accompanying delegation on this third tour included PMA directors and representatives from the Union of Chamber of Commerce, the Contractors Union, the Palestinian Shippers Council, the banks and the private sector.