The PMA and the Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hold a Workshop on the Status of Banking Services in the Gaza Strip

The PMA, in cooperation with the Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry, held a specialized workshop on the current status of banking services and E-payment systems in the Gaza Strip. The workshop was attended by operations managers from operating banks, representatives of E-payment service providers and telecommunications companies, as well as representatives of the commercial sector and several international organizations operating in the Strip.

The workshop aimed to highlight the status of banking services and electronic payment systems in the Gaza Strip, and to discuss the operational and technical challenges facing banks, merchants, and citizens under the current circumstances. It also sought to enhance dialogue and coordination among relevant stakeholders and to develop practical proposals that would help ensure the continuity of financial services, improve their efficiency, and expand the scope of financial inclusion in the Gaza Strip.

During the opening of the workshop, the Chairman of the Gaza Governorate Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Eng. Ayed Abu Ramadan, stressed the importance of strengthening partnership and ongoing coordination with the PMA, the banking sector, and all relevant stakeholders. He emphasized the need for joint efforts to follow up on the challenges facing merchants and the commercial sector and to explore practical, implementable solutions. This comes particularly in light of the continued Israeli restrictions imposed on the movement of funds and electronic transactions. Eng. Abu Ramadan also noted that the Chamber continues to implement the “Cash We Don’t Need It” campaign, which aims to promote the use of E-payment methods and contribute to easing the cash liquidity crisis, thereby supporting the continuity of economic activity and enhancing the efficiency of financial transactions in the markets.

For his part, the Director of the Financial Stability Department at the PMA, Mr. Iyad Al-Zaitawi, underscored the PMA’s commitment to continuing cooperation with banks, payment service providers, and relevant stakeholders to enhance the efficiency of banking services and E-payment systems in the Gaza Strip, and to improve safe and effective access to financial services for citizens and merchants amid the exceptional conditions and challenges facing the sector.

Al-Zaitawi explained that E-payment systems, as part of the PMA’s digital transformation strategy, have constituted a key pillar in ensuring the continuity of financial services in the Gaza Strip. He noted their role in enabling citizens and merchants to conduct transactions efficiently and securely, as well as in supporting the flow of humanitarian assistance and maintaining the regularity of financial transactions and overall financial stability despite significant operational and logistical challenges.

In turn, the Chairman of the federation of Palestinian chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Mr. Abdo Idris, welcomed the convening of this important workshop, expressing his sincere appreciation to the PMA, the Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and all participating entities for organizing this timely meeting, which directly responds to the challenges and difficulties faced by merchants in the Gaza Strip. He affirmed that Gaza will remain a national and economic priority across all policies and programs, and stressed the importance of strengthening a consultative and continuous dialogue approach between official institutions and the private sector. Such an approach, he noted, is essential to reaching practical and implementable solutions that support the resilience of merchants, ensure the continuity of economic activity, and improve the business environment under the current exceptional circumstances.

The workshop sessions addressed the challenges facing the commercial sector, particularly those related to banking services, alongside interventions by several merchants who shared insights into the daily difficulties they encounter in using these services.

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants agreed on a set of proposals and recommendations to be implemented in the coming period in cooperation with partners. These measures aim to enhance the efficiency of banking services, expand their availability, and strengthen financial awareness and financial literacy programs for citizens and merchants.