Mazen Qaq מאזן קאק

President of the Association of Beit Al Makdess Traders
By: Mazen Qaq
Arab Association of Beit Al Makdess traders
Since its establishment, the Arab Association of Beit Al Makdess traders has undertaken upon itself the task of serving the society in the economic sphere towards achieving its ultimate goal, namely to contribute towards comprehensive and sustainable development in Jerusalem. The Association went through several development phases filled with accomplishments throughout its various activities in trying to achieve its identified goals within the economic sector.
In line with its objectives and within its capacities, the Association exerted tremendous efforts towards serving the national economy, enhancing its growth; it carried out several activities, the most prominent of which included supporting Jerusalem traders, spreading economic awareness among citizens, encouraging economic studies to provide accurate and scientific information and analysis about all aspects of the Palestinian economy and its various sectors, finding a research database and point of reference concerned with economic research, and spreading investment and production awareness that contributes towards sustainable development.
The writer sees a need for the Association to open up to all Middle East countries given its capacities and potentials that could bring about economic, commercial, and investment benefits to everyone, through cooperation and partnership agreements. The Association is considered among the most prominent national institutions in Jerusalem that seeks to develop a variety of programs in all sectors. The Association has proved its great capacity and effectiveness in strengthening all the economic, investment, professional, and service-providing organizations (tourism) in various environments and cultures including businessmen in Jerusalem in the best manner possible towards socio-economic development making it a major driver of development and poverty alleviation in the city. The noble vision of the Association, represented by its board and president, is to build bridges of peace and love among people, because economy and peace are closely interlinked. It seeks to build trust and amicable relations
among people, which is an accumulative process that builds upon all efforts throughout the different aspects of life. The process of economic development contributes tremendously towards building bridges of trust among divided communities by bringing all individuals around common objectives and needs and by establishing a network of communications through process of economic and commercial exchange with the aim of planting seeds of peace and joint cooperation.
Since its establishment, the Association of Beit Al Makdess Traders succeeded in being a pioneer among all national institutions. It has become one of the most important addresses for improving and promoting the socio-economic level given its effective and influential role in achieving development of all forms. It also contributes towards improving the administrative and marketing functions of commercial institutions in Jerusalem by supervising and following up with productive and service-providing institutions in line with their objectives and their economic or commercial or service sector. Therefore, the Association helps improve the living conditions of employees of these institutions. This was provided by economic studies carried out by the Association and the countries that have economic activities and services as well as diplomatic relations capable of meeting the various needs of the civil society in general.
The importance of the Association emanates from its participation in devising commercial policies, strategies and needed action plans for their implementation, as well as its participation in developing the commercial sector, nurturing the interests of small businesses, and enhancing cooperation among local institutions on the one hand and their counterparts in neighbouring countries on the other.
The main task of the Association can be summed up in serving as un umbrella for a number of Arab chambers of commerce in Jerusalem and several other trade sectors distributed throughout the Jerusalem governorate. The Association aims to support, develop, and incentivize the trade sector in Jerusalem through active participation in devising and reviewing policies, legislations, and laws, as well as collect and provide information related to the economy and trade, and linking the business community with a network of trade relations at the local and international levels, thus achieving national social and economic development. The objectives of the Association can be summarized as follows:
- To be the national proactive partner and the recognized address in strengthening the importance of the Palestinian trade sector locally and internationally.
- To participate with public sector institutions in devising policies related to the trade and services sector including ICT, developing needed action plans for their implementation.
- Contribute towards developing and enhancing trade and services development efforts including SMEs.
- Enhance cooperation between the Arab Association of Beit Al Makdess Traders and Arab Chambers of Commerce on the one hand, and with foreign chambers of commerce on the other.
- Support capacities and potentials of national chambers of commerce and coordinate their efforts.
- Engage with relevant authorities in organizing and convening commercial and economic conferences at the local and Arab levels.
- Promote the city of Jerusalem as an international trade and tourist destination as well as an international capital of culture.
- Consolidate a network of relations among businessmen at the local and international levels.
Among the other activities offered by the Association: provide information and consultations for investment institutions, provide economic statistics, market assessments and foreign investments, and organize and convene trade conferences and workshops at the local, Arab, and international levels.
The Association’s projects and initiatives:
- Center for research and studies: its task is to prepare specialized studies and research papers.
- Establish an arbitration center to settle local and regional conflicts submitted to the Association through alternative conflict resolution methods through conciliation, and/or mediation, and/or arbitration to settle all kinds of conflicts in accordance with local and regional criteria as appropriate.
- Establish a center for developing entrepreneurships to be the first of its kind serving the commercial sector in Jerusalem. The center aims at promoting the culture of business, provide distinguished education and training services to start enterprises that create job opportunities for citizens and generate applied researches that contribute towards a community of knowledge.
- Organize economic events in honor of visiting delegations to Jerusalem or visits and missions organized by the Association abroad accompanied by the convening of forums, conferences, bi-lateral meetings, trade fairs, and cooperation in organizing seminars and training workshops.
Relations and alliances:
Joint cooperation agreements between the Association and Arab countries:
First: Tunisia- joint cooperation agreement between the Tunisian Association for industry, commerce, and tourism. Signing of an agreement to establish a Tunisian- Arab Association for Beit Al Makdess Traders businessmen council including the Tunisian Association for industry, commerce, and traditional industries.
Second: Algeria- establish the Algerian-Arab Association for Beit Al Makdess Traders economic council for tourism, trade, and investment.
Third: joint economic cooperation between the Moroccan chamber of commerce and industry and the Arab Association for Beit Al Makdess traders.
Fourth: joint cooperation with the Sudanese general union of employers.
Fifth: Agreement with the Turkish Association of chambers of commerce and industry
Sixth: joint economic cooperation with the Jordanian chamber of commerce and industry.
Seventh: joint economic cooperation with the Bahraini chamber of commerce and industry.
It is important to point out the role and impact of tourism on the socio-economic life of hosting communities through the following:
- Increase social outreach with the external world through tourism, increase import of goods and services, in addition to encouragement of economic exchange, full internationalization and development of trade fields.
- Increase local interest in arts, particularly handicrafts, theatre, and music attracting popular interest and community sponsorship for them including for architecture, painting, and literature.
These are the objectives that the Association aims to achieve through establishing tourism cooperation relations with Arab and foreign countries.
Tourism enhances the national economy and increases the wealth with the flow of visitors. Additionally, it contributes towards creating new jobs and encourages the upgrade of infrastructure, as well as other kinds of investments. Tourism involves relations with hotels, travel agencies, airline companies, tour organizers, restaurants, as well as other activities that meet the needs of tourists and support the economy indirectly through the capital investments including all operating sectors of tourism.
It is important to reiterate the need to develop the tourism sector through measures that can be summarized as follows: develop marketing and distribution, encourage internal tourism, accelerate the pace of completing touristic projects, improve the quality of services to receive tourists, and encourage investments with Arab and foreign chambers of commerce and industry.
The writer points out to the following factors that help develop tourism in the holy city:
- Develop means of communication and transportation to facilitate access around the world.
- The emergence of touristic organizations such as the International Organization for Tourism that caters for the touristic sector and its components in general.
- Increase income for individuals and improve their living standards.
It is important to point out to the importance of touristic planning that sketches a picture for the future of the tourism industry in the holy city and the other cities according to a program that involves specific long or short-term steps and time frames with the identification of the objectives of such a plan to achieve sustainable touristic development. Policy planning can be summarized as follows:
- Provide information, data, statistics, plans, reports, and surveys that enrich the national tourism sector and encourage investors in the sector to work in a clear manner away from any vagueness resulting from scarcity of accurate information, statistics, and surveys.
- Contribute towards determining and developing touristic materials using them appropriately in the present and the future in the framework of sustainable tourism and development.
- Increase socio-economic benefits, and appreciation of local cultural, natural, and historic heritage by developing the tourism sector and spread its benefits among the community members within the framework of a just and equitable policy that contribute s towards managing and mitigating risks and negative aspects of tourism.
- Contribute towards developing detailed plans and increasing their chances of success to increase tourism generated income and organize the sector.
- Assist in devising the appropriate foundations for implementing the ongoing development plans, policies, and programs through the establishment of agencies and institutions to manage the tourism sector and upgrade the tourism industry in the country.
- Contribute towards the ongoing evaluation of touristic development and progress, identifying risks, developing and enriching strengths, overcoming weaknesses in future planning processes.
The president of the Arab Association of Beit Al Makdess traders pointed to the importance of community work based on cooperation among all operating institutions in the country to identify society concerns and learn about all community problems through the complementary partnership among these institutions. He also pointed out to the role of Jerusalem residents in the economy, since many of them are very distinguished in the field of industry and trade. From the early stages of its development, the Arab Association for Beit Al Makdess traders has made good progress in developing its work and activities. It provides its services in everything related to the social culture and responsibility, to the services and trade sectors.
Al Qaq pointed out that the Palestinian private sector in Jerusalem, that represents owners of investment projects is an organized and active sector that undertakes its role properly. The private sector has a clear role in corporate social responsibility, making donations, and building the economy. Therefore, it is in need for someone to lead it to safety.
Purposes and aspirations:
First: cooperate with Arab and foreign Chambers of Commerce and Industry as well as with their professional and economic organizations to foster and develop trade exchange and contribute towards establishing the basis for Arab and foreign economic unity.
Second: establish ties with foreign associations and chambers of trade and similar bodies as well as participate in joint Arab-foreign chambers.
Third: participate in fairs and events inside and outside the country in coordination with relevant parties.
Fourth: participate in forums, conferences, and seminars related to fostering and development of trade.
Activities and services of the Arab Association for Beit Al Makdess traders:
First: the Association made in-kind donations to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah. The management of the medical complex welcomed this initiative by Mr. Al Qaq , pointing out to the importance of philanthropy and community giving and the need to continue to provide it through different forms. The management added that the aid is not limited to the volume of materials donated to any organization but goes a long way to show that there is still goodwill among people to offer this assistance which is a distinguished initiative.
Second: the president of the Association Mazen Al Qaq welcomed the head of the Romanian Representative Office in Palestine Mr. CĂTĂLIN ȚÎRLEA in the presence of businessmen from neighboring countries and British and American businessmen of Arab origins expressing their hope in seeing an improvement of the economic situation and trade exchange. The president of the Association Mr. Al Qaq called for bi-lateral cooperation between the two counties in the fields of economy, tourism, and culture to improve the economic situation of the Old City of Jerusalem. Al Qaq stressed the deep cultural and historic relations between the two sides.
Third: the Association managed since its establishment in 2005 and represented by its president businessman Mazen Al Qaq to implement several projects supporting orphanages and schools for orphans. Al Qaq pointed out that the objective of establishing the Association is to support and develop Jerusalem-based traders by attracting a large number of tourists, foreigners, businessmen, and investments to the city of Jerusalem, and particularly to the Old City and outside it. The Association also supports orphanages and senior citizens’ homes, expanding the infrastructure of schools in the Old City of Jerusalem as well as provide health-related projects and other activities
Fourth: The Association represented by its president Al Qaq calls upon citizens to develop trade. In an interview with Panet and Panorama newspaper, Al Qaq talked about the importance of this Association particularly in the region and the country to support the commercial sector represented by Palestinian Jerusalem-based traders and tourists, providing necessary services in all fields such as helping to reduce the Arnona and other taxes, as well as offer other distinguished facilitations, etc.
Fifth: the commercial attache at the Turkish embassy in Jerusalem met with the president of the Association and a number of Jerusalem-based traders in his office in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem. The Turkish attache welcomed the delegation and provided a detailed description of the active and supportive role that Turkey represented by its president, government, and people towards the Palestinian question, particularly in Jerusalem, adding “this is a source of pride for us in Turkey.” In his turn, the delegation expressed their pleasure to visit the Turkish embassy in Jerusalem and to meet with the commercial attache in it. The delegation commended the Turkish support for the holy city in all fields of life. From his side, Mazen Al Qaq said “this visit came to reiterate the relationship between Palestinians in Jerusalem and their Turkish brothers, and to exchange visits between Istanbul and Jerusalem traders and to organize religious tourism groups during the holy month of Ramadan and the religious holidays.” At the end of the meeting, an invitation was extended to Jerusalem traders to visit Turkey and exchange experiences in the field of trade and industry.
Sixth: upon the invitation of the Costa-Rican embassy in the country, Mazen Al Qaq met with the Cost-Rican ambassador in the presence of the head of the chamber of trade Drour Attari. Al Qaq discussed with the ambassador means for cooperation and trade exchange and support for Jerusalem economy in view of the difficult economic conditions that the city is going through. The Ambassador Steven Penron said his country was ready for touristic and trade exchange. He also endorsed the Arab Association for Beit Al Makdess traders as a point of reference for granting visas to Costa-Rica through a recommendation letter that would be submitted by the Association to the embassy. From his side, Al Qaq expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Costa-Rican ambassador for his hospitality and made suggestions that were welcomed by the ambassador and will be implemented on the ground in the near future.
Seven: the ambassador of the Philippines Neil Emperial hosted the president of the Association Mazen Al Qaq. The meeting aimed at exploring trade exchange and its prospects between the Philippines and Jerusalem. The ambassador said “ there are constructive efforts between the Philippines and the President of the Association” and hoped that the new year will witness a high level of trade exchange in terms of exports and tourism.” Al Qaq said “the constructive efforts to develop the commercial cooperation between us and the Philippines will increase by a good percentage in 2018.” Al Qaq talked about the facilitations offered by the Philippines through the Association in terms of the visa for Jerusalem-based traders. At the end of the meeting, the ambassador
said that he “will take into consideration the Jerusalem-based traders who will be granted the priority to visit the Philippines for trade and all trade and service facilitations by the government there.”
Objectives:
The Association cares for organizing and developing commercial activities and strengthening their role in economic development. The Association seeks to implement its programs while taking into consideration the current economic transformations in the country as well as the regional and international changes and trends. It also works on optimizing the role of the private sector in economic development, pushing it towards increasing its relative significance in the economic sphere and what is need to stay up-to-date with these transformations as follows:
First: the Arab Association of Beit Al Makdess traders seeks to activate its role in the process of economic transformation of the country to guarantee their participation in reviewing the institutions and agencies that oversee the organization work of the private sector in a manner that makes it more flexible and open to undertake its activities. It also works towards ensuring the private sector’s involvement in devising the economic policies of the country, namely liberalization of trade.
Second: the Arab Association for Beit Al Makdess traders seeks to undertake its role in the process or organizing exports and imports in the country and in Jerusalem in particular under the adoption of free-market policies. It is worth noting that the Association has experience in exports/imports, as well as commercial arbitration and conflict resolution.
Third: the Association seeks to contribute effectively towards the activation of religious, recreational, therapeutic, study, sports, and cultural tourism in Jerusalem and the country through supporting and encouraging tourism by the private sector, representing the association as member of the tourism committee of the Council of Arab Chambers of Commerce.