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.
