"Palestine Achieves Historic Milestone with International Recognition of National Conformity Certificate and a Call to Strengthen Public-Private Partnerships"

Ramallah – Under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Palestine, the Palestinian Standards and Metrology Institution (PSMI) announced the international recognition of Palestine’s National Certificate of Conformity during a national event attended by several ministers, representatives from the public and private sectors, and international partners. This achievement significantly enhances the competitiveness of Palestinian products in regional and international markets.
February 10, 2025

Palestinian Minister of Industry, Mr. Arafat Asfour, praised this milestone in his speech, affirming that the international recognition reflects Palestine’s commitment to global quality standards and supports its economic aspirations. He emphasized that this development boosts confidence in national products and opens new horizons for Palestinian industries, especially in light of the current economic challenges.

Mr. Asfour expressed gratitude to the "Tasjeer" (Export) Program for its continued support and strategic partnership with the Ministry of Industry and the Standards and Metrology Institution. He also extended thanks to the institution’s staff for their efforts in achieving this success.

Engineer Haider Hjaija, Director General of PSMI, delivered a detailed presentation outlining the major benefits of this international recognition. He emphasized the steps needed by both the public and private sectors to maximize the impact of this achievement, noting that the institution remains committed to developing Palestine’s quality infrastructure to support manufacturers and enhance their global competitiveness.

Ms. Velda Strachan, Development Director at the British Consulate – representing the Export Program funded by the UK – stressed the importance of this partnership with PSMI, noting the vital role the program has played in enabling Palestinian industries to meet international market requirements. She confirmed that this international recognition is the result of strong collaborative efforts.

Jordan’s Ambassador, H.E. Issam Al-Bdour, commended the efforts of the Palestinian Standards Institution and affirmed Jordan’s continued support in facilitating Palestinian product access to Jordanian and international markets. He added that this achievement highlights the development of Palestine’s quality infrastructure and strengthens its regional economic position.

The event featured important discussions, including a speech by Nassar Nassar, Chair of the Palestinian Federation of Industries and Deputy Chair of the PSMI Board. He stated that international recognition offers a major opportunity for the industrial sector to enhance exports and align with global standards. He called for continued cooperation between government and the private sector to provide support for national industries.

Abdo Idrees, President of the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, emphasized that international recognition improves the business environment and eases the cross-border movement of Palestinian goods. He urged stronger integration between commercial and industrial institutions to support the national economy.

Mazen Sunuqrut, Chairman of Sinokrot Holding, expressed pride in this achievement, saying it reflects the progress of Palestinian industries. He stressed that public-private partnership is key to enhancing competitiveness and achieving sustainable economic development.

Success Stories of Palestinian Industries

The event showcased two success stories from companies that benefited from international accreditation:

• Rubin Al-Joulani, representative of Eagle Flex, noted that international recognition of the Certificate of Conformity enabled the company to export to Gulf markets without additional inspection procedures, saving both time and cost while increasing trust in the product.

• Salim Abu Ghazaleh, from Al Reef Company, confirmed that international accreditation helped market Palestinian olive oil in European markets. He highlighted that the recognition of the national sensory testing panel for olive oil tasting had a direct impact on this success.

Conclusion

In closing, Engineer Hjaija emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors to capitalize on these accreditations. The institution called on all industrial and commercial entities to join the national quality system, stating that this would improve production standards and elevate the global standing of Palestinian products.

This achievement would not have been possible without the support of the Tasjeer Program, strategic partnerships with international institutions such as the German Metrology Institute (PTB) and the Gulf Accreditation Center (GAC), and the dedicated efforts of PSMI in building a strong national quality infrastructure.