Opportunities and Possibilities for Developing Palestinian Commodity Exports by Focusing on Green Exports

This descriptive study addresses a topic of considerable importance to the Palestinian economy, i.e., the promotion of commodity exports as a lever for economic growth, an important source of job creation, and a critical component to reducing dependency on the Israeli economy. The study’s significance also lies in the positive spillovers of any export development to all economic indicators and thus addresses the Palestinian export sector, with all its branches and specifics, through focusing on green exports, a subject which has not been adequately studied. The study's focus on green exports is a starting point that could be built on in the quest toward the development of a green economy by exploring the transition  mechanisms to green production (exports). This is done through taking stock of the experiences of countries, and recognized international standards, and deriving the necessary policies for such a transition. 

The study is organized in five main chapters: the first, presents the significance, objectives, and methodology of the study; the second, presents the various aspects of the experiences of other countries; the third chapter addresses Palestinian export performance and its weaknesses; the fourth focuses on the opportunities and challenges of green exports in Palestine; and the last chapter presents the findings, recommendations, and suggested interventions. 

The most significant finding of the study is that all agricultural commodities as well as a broad array of industrial commodities, could be transformed into green production. But the transition to a green economy cannot be an improvised decision, rather a long and strenuous process and effort undertaken by all stakeholders from the top to the bottom. This leads to the production of clean industrial and agricultural products which are manufactured in a pollutant-free and healthy environment. According to its concept and definition, green economy affects all economic and social areas, such as city planning, tourism, transport, renewable energy, technology, waste management and recycling, forest protection, water  conservation, quarrying, mining, and exploration, … etc. All these components have significant positive socioeconomic impacts