The Governments of Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Authority have agreed to initiate a major regional integrated development project to foster regional economic co-operation in the SEMED area. The concept envisages co-operation between the three parties in both economic and social matters through the development of specific sectors of the economy.

The SEMED Region The SEMED Project area is essentially a coastal strip running from East of Lake Bardawil, through the Gaza Strip, up to and including Ashdod. A common vision for the development of the area was developed by the three regional parties Egypt, Israel and The Palestinian Authority at a workshop in Cairo in 1995. The approach being following is a "dynamic" fast-track planning process aimed at stimulating economic growth.

The SEMED Steering Committe

The project is directed by a SEMED Steering Committee, Comprising members from each of the three parties and is chaired by the EU. Each of its members has agreed to co-operate in mutually advantageous development initiatives while at the same time acknowledging that the co-operative effort will not prejudice the national development objectives of the individual areas.  The Steering Committee has agreed to place special emphasis on facilitating the Palestinian Authority's effective participation in the project, in order to foster their progress in reaching a degree of parity with their partners in SEMED. An EU financed Technical Support Unit (TSU) has been appointed to support the SEMED Steering Committee over a two year period to help in achieving and promoting effective and productive regional co-operation in economic and business development between the partners in SEMED.

The SEMED Project Objectives  To assist each of the parties to co-operate in a mutually advantages development process. To bring the facilities and standards in Gaza more into line with those of the other parties in SEMED. To improve the employment and income potential of the local population in SEMED through more effective skills enhancement. To improve SEMED's performance in attracting inward mobile investment both in industry and tourism. Through effective training inputs, to increase the competitiveness and the growth potential of local enterprises, particularly small and medium enterprises in the private sector.

Projects assisted should reflect the fact that SEMED is a regional economic and social development co-operative initiative. 

To help build confidence in the process, projects initially should be relatively small scale as opposed to large scale capital investments. 

Projects should have the capacity to be implemented in the short and medium term.  Projects should not be hazardous to the environment of the region.  SEMED should facilitate the integration of the private sector into the project.

Special Measures for the Palestinian Authority The Steering Committee has directed that the most urgent requirement was to give preference to projects that would impact, in the short term, on the difficult economic conditions being experienced by the Palestinians. It was agreed that urgent priority be given to those projects that are geared to bringing facilities in Gaza more into line with those found in the other parts of the region. This approach will enable the Palestinians to play a full part in the project.

Projects as a Basis for Co-operation between the parties

The basis for co-operation between the parties on projects can be summarised as follows:

Israel is willing to provide abundant technology transfer by a range of methods but is in need of little institutional development.

The Palestinian Authority is in need of capacity building, so institutional building and strengthening and technical assistance is required.

Egypt is willing to provide technical assistance in certain sectors, but requires some assistance with institutional strengthening and some types of technical assistance.

All parties expressed a willingness to co-operate in both the public and private sectors.

The Priority Sectors The Steering Committee selected three priority sectors which they asked the TSU to examine on the basis that they were considered to have the best prospects for integrated co-operative development. The three sectors are   A Technical and Vocational Training Network (TVT) Co-operation in Agriculture and mariculture A Tourism Network

The Projects

An overall consensus was reached between the parties for a list of twenty nine projects from the priority sectors which the parties considered has the best potential for co-operative development. Twelve projects were extracted from the list of twenty nine projects to reflect the views of the Steering Committee and the local regional experts to show preference to projects that would impact, in the short term, on the difficult economic conditions being experienced by the Palestinian Authority.

The Twelve Projects are as Follows:

Technical and Vocational Training

• Institutional Strengthening 
• Region Wide TVT Trainer Development Programme 
• Refurbishing and Re-equipping the Existing Training Centres in Gaza City and Rafah 
• Use of Regional Parties for Specialist Courses

Agriculture and Mariculture

• Crop Intensification Research
• Research on the Safe Use of Treated Sewage Effluent and Sewage Sludge
• Developing Four Laboratories in Gaza

                Tissue Culture Laboratory
                Biological Control Lab for Plant and Disease Control
                Oil Crop Analysis Lab
                Sewage Products and Water Lab

• Establish a Dairy / Milk Reconstitution Plant in Gaza
• Establish a Marketing Information Unit

A Tourism Network 

• Institutional Strengthening and Training
• Basic Planning Studies
• Development of a Corniche coastal road in Gaza to support Tourism Projects

SEMED Sterring Committee

H.E. Ambassador Soliman Awad,
Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Cairo, Egypt.
Tel: +20 2 5747826 Fax: +20 2 5749713

Mr. Refael (Rafi) Benvenisti, Special Adviser.
Ministry of Finance,
Israel.
Tel: +972 2 5635539 Fax: +9722 5666703

Dr. M. Shtayyeh,
Managing Director,
PECDAR.
Tel: +972 2 9982300 Fax: +972 2 5747041 


SEMED Technical Support

Jennings O'Donovan (Ireland) - IDI (Ireland) 
Tel: +353 71 61416 - Fax: +353 71 50185 

SEMED TSU Office, Gaza 
Tel: +972 7 827 871 Fax: +972 7 827871 


Photography: Getty/Tony Stone Images