The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) hosted the “Palestine-Japan Business Forum: From Reconstruction to Investment Opportunities” in Tokyo. Discussions focused on the private sector's role in Gaza's economic recovery and the potential for cooperation with Japanese companies.
The UNDP held the Palestine-Japan Business Forum on 8 September to examine the private sector's role in the economic recovery of the Gaza Strip and the potential for cooperation with Japanese companies. The forum placed emphasis on rebuilding small and medium-sized enterprises and highlighted initiatives to support employment and income stability.
A jointly developed reconstruction strategy by the Palestinian Authority and the UNDP estimates damage to the private sector at approximately $8 billion and identifies investment opportunities in construction waste and recycling, digital and IT, and agriculture. The reconstruction targets include supporting approximately 2,000 small and medium-sized enterprises and creating 100,000 jobs.
Gaza's business community explained that approximately 90% of manufacturing facilities had been damaged and reported that commercial cargo inflows remained at approximately 30% of required levels. Some manufacturers, however, have resumed operations and expressed interest in cooperating with Japanese companies on equipment supply, technical assistance, quality control and market access, including the reuse of debris.
Inagawa Hiroki (鮄川宏樹) of Monstarlab Holdings introduced his experience of working with Palestinian IT professionals. While cautioning against the facile view of Gaza as merely an opportunity, he pointed to the importance of sustained job creation and cooperation between Japanese and Palestinian people, supported by high educational attainment and a strong willingness to work. At the forum, the UNDP proposed an ecosystem-based public-private partnership model, while JICA presented examples of its support and businesses in multiple sectors were introduced.