Publication
Omar Shaban Ismail · صحيفة محلية · 2003
A 2003 article welcoming the disclosure of Palestinian public investments as a positive institutional step toward transparency and good governance in the management of Palestinian public assets.
A 2003 article welcoming the disclosure of Palestinian public investments as a positive institutional step toward transparency and good governance in the…
The disclosure of Palestinian investments — whether managed directly by the Palestinian National Authority or belonging to the Palestinian Investment Fund — is a long-overdue but positive step in the right direction that deserves appreciation and encouragement.
Palestinian society has long awaited answers to fundamental questions: what is the total value of Palestinian public investments? In which sectors and geographies are they distributed? What level of returns are being achieved? And how are these returns employed for Palestinian citizens' benefit?
Transparency in public investments does not weaken their negotiating position — quite the contrary, it enhances potential investors' confidence and opens doors to international partnerships. What is required is continuation and development of this approach to include regular, detailed periodic disclosure of all public investments, alongside clear articulation of the oversight and accountability mechanisms that protect these assets from waste or misuse. Public money belongs to the public — and the public has an unconditional right to know how it is being managed.
Topic: Palestinian Economy — Public Investment · Transparency · Palestinian Investment Fund · Gaza Governance