Israel's shipper's council to assist Palestinians set own council

Heads of the Haifa chamber of commerce and the Israeli shipper's council (ISC) met last week a representative committee of Palestinian importers and exporters.
 
The participants discussed ways to promote the smooth flow of trade between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, including the launch of the Palestinian Shippers' Council which will protect the rights of Palestinian importers and exporters.
 
Representatives of the Peres Center for Peace and the European Commission's Delegation to Israel also participated at the meeting.
 
The Palestinian representatives raised several problems including: lack of knowledge in shipping and international freight forwarding as well as excessive cross border bureaucratic difficulties.
 
Mr. Oded Feller president of the Haifa chamber of commerce welcome the Palestinian initiative and said that the setting up of a Palestinian shipper's council could increase co-operation between the Israeli and Palestinian business sectors.
 
Mr. Gad Sheffer, chairman of the shipper's council outlined the way the council operates and said the Israeli council fully recognized the need for training Palestinian importers and exporters in regards to international transportation, and offered the council assistance in this respect.