MSM partner for Palestinian agri-business development

A delegation of more than 200 Palestinian representatives of businesses, knowledge institutions and government bodies, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, gathered in The Hague on 29 October for the second edition of the Dutch-Palestinian Bilateral Cooperation Forum. On this occasion, they met with partners and potential relations, including Maastricht School of Management, and explored possibilities to deepen and broaden the relations between the Netherlands and the Palestinian Territories. The event was hosted by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah.

In the presence of HE Mr Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority and HE Mrs Ploumen, Minister of International Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, MSM Dean Director Prof. Wim Naudé and the President of Al-Quds University (Prof. Dr. Imad Abukishek) signed a cooperation agreement in the framework of a four-year capacity development program entitled ‘Palestinian Academic and Agribusiness Cooperation’. The project focuses on curriculum development, applied research, and on strengthening the interaction within the agricultural sector in Palestine. Conceived as a pilot project, it serves various broader objectives: to expand and deepen Palestinian universities’ academic resource base, innovate their educational operations, expand their linkages to the public and private sector and strengthen their management and governance policies.

Within the overarching theme of innovation, MSM was also responsible for the program on Water and on Agro & Food. In the water program, coordinated by Prof Meine Pieter van Dijk, scholars from the Netherlands and Palestine presented more than 20 papers on i) water management, governance and economics; ii) non-conventional water resources; iii) water quality, sanitation and public health; iv) agricultural production under increased water stress; and v) cross-cutting theme: capacity improvement in the water sector.

The Agro & Food program (led by Huub Mudde) consisted of seminars, B2B matchmaking and company visits. Click here for the full program and to download the presentations. Prof Naudé presented an economic overview explaining why Palestine is not exporting more agro-food products to the Netherlands. Currently, the trade volume between the two countries is only half of the aid volume. Bilateral matchmaking meetings that took place at the same time indicated that although there is good will for working together, actual joint business remains difficult and will need time to further develop. The intensive days resulted in many new contacts, leads and examples of innovative agrifood technology that might also be introduced in Palestine.

Palestinian business delegation visiting Van Staay Fresh Care Convenience B.V. in Dronten

Several business and knowledge seminars were held on Energy, ICT, and Water. Maastricht School of Management organized the Agro & Food seminars.

Agro & Food
The modernization of agriculture is an important theme in the Palestinian Territories. The Netherlands government contributes through stimulating business2business, development-oriented interventions to improve food production, and diplomatic activities to improve market access for Palestinian agricultural goods. Participants to the Dutch-Palestinian Bilateral Cooperation Forum were able to see how technology can help Palestinian agricultural producers to increase their production. Food producers interested in export possibilities to the Netherlands were also present at the event.