The conference – which was originally scheduled to take place in 2006 but had to be postponed when the political situation deteriorated – attracted more than 1000 delegates, including representatives from major

multinationals including Coca-Cola, Marriott, Intel and Cisco.

Palestinian businesses presented investment projects worth almost $2bn to business delegates and officials from the US, UK, France, Germany and Russia as well as Gulf and Arab investors.

David Craig, World Bank country director for the West Bank and Gaza, said the private sector is the engine needed to drive sustainable economic growth in the West Bank and Gaza. “World Bank analysis has shown the investment climate in the West Bank and Gaza to be less bureaucratic and more transparent than other countries in the region,” he said.