National Beverage Company and Al-Tayf (Candia) Sponsor Workshop Marking Palestinian Products Day
Ramallah
– The National Beverage Company (NBC) and Al-Tayf Dairy & Food Products
Company (Candia) sponsored a workshop organized by the Palestinian Society
for Consumer Protection on the occasion of Palestinian Products Day,
observed annually on November 1st, at the Carmel Hotel in Ramallah.
The event was
attended by Minister of Industry Arafat Asfour, Chairman of the
Palestinian Federation of Industries Abdul Hakim Foqaha, and Chairman of
the Palestinian Society for Consumer Protection Salah Hanieh, alongside
representatives from the public and private sectors, civil society
organizations, women’s associations, and several Palestinian universities.
A number of
Palestinian companies also took part in a promotional exhibition showcasing
their products, including: Qitaf Investment & Marketing, Vegetable
Oil Industries Co., Unipal/Reema, National Beverage Company, Candia,
Zadna Food Industries, Al-Rajeh Chemical Detergent Factory, Nice,
and the Palestinian Friendship Chemicals Company.
This year’s event aimed to highlight the value of high-quality Palestinian products and expand their market share by discussing key strategic themes related to import substitution, its impact on supporting local production, and the challenges—both internal and external—facing Palestinian industries, with a particular focus on professional marketing and promotion of local products.
Minister Arafat
Asfour noted that Palestinian industry has made remarkable progress since
1994, stating that “today, more than 40% of the market’s industrial products
are locally made, compared to less than 10% thirty years ago.”
He added that
the local market, once flooded with imports, now reflects strong domestic
presence—made possible through government legislation that enabled hundreds of
modern industrial facilities to operate using advanced technologies and by
investing in human capital and innovation.
Asfour stressed
the need to encourage citizens to support Palestinian-made goods, citing
examples such as dairy and cheese products now covering over 80% of the
market, pharmaceuticals 60%, and animal feed expected to reach
60%.
Meanwhile, Abdul
Hakim Foqaha, Chairman of the Palestinian Food Industries Union, pointed
out that many consumers have become accustomed to relying on imported goods
rather than developing local agriculture and industry—both of which strengthen
national resilience.
He emphasized that around 60% of products in the Palestinian market are
domestically produced, noting the importance of maintaining and expanding
the boycott campaign to support local manufacturing. He also highlighted
ongoing challenges imposed by the occupation, including restrictions on
movement and the closure of checkpoints that disrupt industrial operations.
From his side, Imad
Hindi, General Manager of the National Beverage Company and Al-Tayf
Dairy & Food Products (Candia), explained that sponsoring the workshop
reflects “the private sector’s commitment to supporting the national economy
and strengthening Palestinian consumers’ confidence in the quality and
competitiveness of local products.”
He added that
both companies “play an active role in supplying the Palestinian market with
high-quality products that meet consumer needs according to international
standards, while maintaining the highest levels of quality and safety
throughout all production stages.”
Al-Hindi reaffirmed that NBC and Al-Tayf “place Palestinian consumers at the
core of their priorities, continuously developing new products that meet their
aspirations and compete with imported goods.”
For his part, Salah
Hanieh, Chairman of the Palestinian Society for Consumer Protection,
stated that following two years of devastating war, the Palestinian economy has
lost nearly one-third of its productive base due to contraction in the West
Bank and the near-total collapse of the economic system in Gaza. He cited record-high
unemployment rates reaching 50% of the workforce, a severe financial
blockade affecting vital sectors, and rising levels of food insecurity.
Nevertheless,
Hanieh emphasized signs of resilience and growth: “We now witness strong
performance in the chemical sector, which operates at 93% capacity—especially
in cleaning products—and a 62% growth in food and beverage industries,
particularly in dairy, grain milling, vegetable oils, meat processing, and
animal feed.”
He noted that
Palestinian consumers now purchase local goods not merely out of patriotism,
but because they are high-quality, diverse, and meet market needs.
Hanieh called on
the authorities to tighten consumer protection measures against harmful
and non-compliant products, enforce the Palestinian standards on
imports—especially from Israeli markets—activate the import substitution and
anti-dumping committees, and provide tax incentives for Palestinian
producers, provided these lead to lower consumer prices.
He also urged stronger public-private partnerships to open new markets
and activate industrial zones to support sustainable growth.
