Creating Awareness of Fair Trade for the Olive Productions at Bethlehem University

On Thursday April 26, a seminar entitled “Fair Trade for Olive Productions in the Mediterranean” was conducted at Bethlehem University. The Fair Trade Development Center (FTDC) ftdc.bethlehem.edu has coordinated this seminar as part of a project with Italian partners called “Olive: Cultivation and Culture of the Mediterranean”. The goal of the project is to create a network of solid economy in the northern and southern sides of the Mediterranean Sea, in the sectors of handicraft, agriculture and Fair Trade, with cooperation among social organizations, cooperatives and local authorities interested to promote peace, dialogue and solid economy.

The opening session of the seminar included a welcoming speech by Mr. Mousa Darwish, Assistant to Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University, who stressed the importance of fair trade and communicated the University’s full commitment to introducing the fair trade concept in Palestine. In her address, Ms. Muna Matar, member of Beit Jala Municipality Council, a partner in the project, declared the full support of Beit Jala municipality to the project.

The following sessions where directed towards presenting and discussing the current situation of the Palestinian economy, the need for alternative markets, mechanisms to help develop and sustain the economy, a brief summary of the international fair trade movement and the importance of unifying and regulating small producers. Sessions were presented by the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, the Institute of Community Partnership and the Italian partners. 

Partners and participants concluded to resume closer cooperation in an effort to integrate and adopt fair trade practices in Palestine.