AmCham in cooperation with the U.S. Commercial Service Office held a video conference meeting with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) / Washington on Thursday, November 6th, at the AmCham premises. The meeting was an introductory one about USTDA programs, activities and services in Palestine. The meeting was attended by A group of Palestinian businessmen from a variety of business sectors.


The USTDA is an agency that promotes economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing countries. The agency funds projects and activities that endorse local economic development in various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment.

In 2007 the agency developed a new portfolio for projects in Palestine that included the following major highlights:

• Palestine Investment Conference (PIC): the agency provided technical consultant to assist the organizers in the development of ICT sector project proposals that was held in Bethlehem back in May 2008.
  
• WiMax technical assistance grant: the agency provided a grant for technical assistance to BCI Communications and Advanced Technologies, Ltd. to provide business advisory services, technical analysis, and human resources training.
  
• Marble and Stone Orientation visit: the agency funded an orientation visit to the U.S. to familiarize Palestinian business representatives in the marble and stone industry with U.S. services, technology and equipment.
  
• Internet Data Center Feasibility Study: the agency provided a grant for a feasibility study to Safad engineering & Electronics Ltd. to provide technical, business and financial advisory services to establish the Internet Data Center.

Mr. Carl B. Kress, the Regional Director for Middle East & North Africa, gave a presentation about USTDA with the assistance of Ms. Taraneh Bastani, Country Manager for Middle East, and Mr. Tareq Bremer, Project Analyst for Middle East & North Africa.


USTDA Contact Information

U.S. Trade and Development Agency
1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600
Arlington, VA 22209
Telephone (703) 875-4357
Fax (703) 875-4009
Website:  www.ustda.gov
Email:  info@ustda.gov

Mr. Carl B. Kress  
Regional Director, Middle East and North Africa
ckress@ustda.gov

Ms. Taraneh Bastani
Country Manager, Middle East
sshapiro@ustda.gov  

Mr. Tareq Bremer
Project Analyst, Middle East & North Africa
tbremer@ustda.gov