PMA Governor Meets Representatives of Banks in Gaza and Opens Preparatory Meeting for the Banking Week

Gaza

His Excellency Mr. Azzam Shawwa, the Governor of Palestine Monetary Authority, held several meetings today in Gaza during his tour of the Palestinian districts to closely monitor the economic situation in general and the financial and banking situations in particular so as to strengthen financial stability in Palestine. 

His Excellency Mr. Azzam Shawwa met this morning at PMA’s headquarters in Gaza with representatives from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Education Program of the UNRWA and students from four Palestinian universities. The meeting was a preparatory meeting for the Children and Youth Money Week in 2018 to be launched on March 11 and last until March 15 in Bethlehem Convention Palace and in the Lighthouse Hotel in Gaza. 

Mr. Shawwa pointed out the importance of the Children and Youth Money Week to be held for the sixth year in a row in promoting banking culture. The Children and Youth Money Week has several activities to streamline the concepts of banking functions to promote banking among children and youth and prepare them to deal in the future with financial and banking institutions. Mr. Shawwa thanked all those involved in preparing and working together for the success of the Children and Youth Money Week 

The Money Week activities include a virtual bank to introduce children and youth to banking products and services and organizing visits by banks and lending institutions’ officers to schools as well as welcoming school students and parents to banks and lending institutions during specific hours to introduce them to more banking services and products. The Money Week activities also include handing out information pamphlets about banks.

PMA organizes the Children and Youth Money Week annually. This has been an initiative of PMA and partners since 2011. The organization of this event usually coincides with the activities of the Global Money Week, which takes place every year on March 15 and aims to enhance the financial and banking culture in the society especially among children and youth and prepares them to wisely plan their financial future. 

Mr. Shawwa also met with representatives of banks authorized to operate in Gaza Strip at the Gaza headquarters of the Palestinian Banking Institute and Association of Banks in Palestine. Mr. Shawwa said it was important to meet officers from the Palestinian banking officers in Gaza and pointed out the problems the banking system faced as a whole and the specific problems in faced in Gaza Strip.   

His Excellency Mr. Shawwa said PMA worked hard to protect the Palestinian banking system across the homeland and to ensure its integrality and that it was subject to PMA’s supervision. Banking functions is subject to integral rules and regulations to ensure its soundness and to avert risks. Mr. Shawwa praised the excellent performance of banks in 2017 and the profits made. He affirmed the importance of corporate social responsibility of banks in accordance with their internal plans and strengthening relations with the community and the role of the Association of Banks in Palestine in this respect.  

Mr. Shawwa also held a meeting yesterday evening at his residence in Gaza with the Egyptian security delegate, which was headed by Major General Samih Nabeel and included the Egyptian Consul General Mr. Khaled Sami and Brigadier General Abdul Hadi Faraj to be briefed about the latest developments in Palestinian reconciliation.