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ABCC hosts reception for Palestinian business delegation
On the evening of 17th March, the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce was pleased to host a reception in honour of a high level business delegation from Palestine on a visit to London to promote the Palestine Securities Exchange.
Opening the reception, Dr Afnan Al Shuaiby, Secretary General & CEO of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, stressed that the Chamber was “proud to be able to play its part in assisting the Palestinian people in building a robust and sustainable economy free from all obstacles and impediments”.
Addressing an audience of British investors and business executives, Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby warmly welcomed the Palestinian delegation headed by Mr Ahmad Aweidah, the CEO of the Palestine Securities Exchange (PSE) and Mrs Abeer Odeh, CEO of Palestinian Capital Market Authority.
She wished them every success in showcasing the investment prospects in Palestine as what was available was still far too little known among the UK business community.
Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby paid a warm personal tribute to Palestinian Ambassador H E Manuel Hassassian for his tireless efforts in promoting his country’s cause in the UK.
For his part, the Ambassador heartily thanked the ABCC and Dr Afnan for offering generous and continuing support to the Palestinians over the years.
H E Manuel Hassassian, Palestinian Ambassador
Speaking on what he described as a “happy and hopeful occasion”, Professor Hassassian stated that the message from the PSE was of success stories that should be celebrated.
Encouraging UK investment in Palestine, he said that more investors needed to go there to see for themselves what was on offer.
H E Manuel Hassassian, Palestinian Ambassador
The Ambassador said that the Palestinian private sector needed to be nurtured and engaged with in order to develop a solid basis for future economic independence.
Mr Ahmad Aweidah, CEO of the Palestine Securities Exchange, explained that the visit to London was designed to change the prevailing view of Palestine by focusing on positive developments in the economy.
Although it was not widely known, the PSE was not exactly a new institution, but was actually older than some of the exchanges recently established elsewhere in the Arab world.
Mr Ahmad Aweidah, CEO of the Palestine Securities Exchange
He was hopeful that by emphasising the successes, more UK investment would be attracted to Palestine and that this would be a positive development.
Palestine had a resilient and resourceful private sector and a business friendly legal environment. In addition, good returns had been obtained by investors in the PSE in recent years, he said.
The reception continued with a networking social following the formal conclusion of business with a presentation by Mr Aweidah of a gift from Palestine to the ABCC and its Secretary General & CEO, Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby.
Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby and Mr Ahmad Aweidah, CEO of the Palestine Securities Exchange
