BETHLEHEM, West Bank / PNN /
The Nisaa Al-Shams Association has launched an online marketplace to support women entrepreneurs in Bethlehem governorate, bringing together representatives of the governorate, the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, women entrepreneurs and small-business owners to explore ways to strengthen the marketing of women-made products and open new markets for them.
The online marketplace was launched during an official ceremony attended by several officials and representatives of local institutions, including Dr. Samir Hazboun, chairman of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mohammad Al-Jaafari, director general of public affairs at the Bethlehem Governorate, representing the governor; Leila Al-Bandak, representing the minister of tourism and antiquities; Amanda Al-Tawir and Lama Jabr, members of the Bethlehem municipal council; as well as a number of representatives of local organisations.
The ceremony also introduced a selection of small businesses run by Palestinian women from several governorates whose products will be promoted through the new marketplace.
Arika Al-Afal introduced the concept of the online marketplace at the opening of the event, followed by remarks from representatives of the Bethlehem Governorate, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Chamber of Commerce.
Reem Al-Hajajra, director of the Nisaa Al-Shams Association, welcomed the participants and outlined the marketplace project and its activities, which culminated in the launch of the platform. She said the marketplace was designed not only to promote women's products locally, but also to help take them to international markets.
Al-Hajajra said the initiative aims to provide women running small businesses with a dedicated space to market their products, particularly amid repeated closures and other restrictions that have made it harder for them to reach local markets.
The platform gives women an opportunity to promote their products online and reach a wider customer base. Participation is offered at a nominal cost, while participating businesses are expected to maintain the quality of their products.
Al-Hajajra said the association hopes to develop the marketplace from a local platform covering Palestinian governorates into one capable of reaching Arab and international markets, giving Palestinian women greater opportunities to market their products at home and abroad.
Leila Al-Bandak, representing the minister of tourism and antiquities, described the launch as an effort to connect Palestinian identity and heritage with the modern digital economy. She stressed the ministry's support for initiatives that preserve Palestinian heritage and traditional crafts, and highlighted its cooperation with the Nisaa Al-Shams Association, particularly in training women artisans and supporting the new marketplace as a tool for promoting their products.
Al-Bandak thanked the association and all those supporting the project, saying it strengthens women's traditional and heritage-based businesses and helps bring products with the potential to compete internationally to a wider audience. She also expressed appreciation and support for Palestinian women entrepreneurs.
Mohammad Al-Jaafari, director general of public affairs at the Bethlehem Governorate, said the launch of the marketing platform for Palestinian women's products was an important entrepreneurial initiative aimed at strengthening women's economic role, particularly amid the difficult economic, political and financial conditions facing Palestinians.
Al-Jaafari said his participation reflected support for women's businesses that contribute to the economy and women's economic empowerment. He praised the work of the Nisaa Al-Shams Association and those behind the initiative, as well as the women entrepreneurs and owners of small and micro-businesses taking part in the platform.
He said the platform offers women an opportunity to showcase and market products from Bethlehem governorate and reach wider markets, including international audiences. He stressed the importance of supporting and adopting such initiatives at the local, Arab, Islamic and international levels.
Al-Jaafari added that projects of this kind could become an important tool for strengthening Palestinian communities' resilience under current conditions, while opening new opportunities for women entrepreneurs and contributing to the local economy and women's participation in it.
Dr. Samir Hazboun, chairman of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stressed the importance of supporting emerging women's businesses and expanding opportunities to market Palestinian women's products. He said digital platforms can play an important role in introducing these products to new consumers, particularly younger audiences.
Hazboun said some of the products and businesses he had seen were not necessarily available in conventional shops and markets, making digital platforms an important way of introducing them to consumers and helping women entrepreneurs reach customers directly.
He added that a significant proportion of Palestinian consumers now use digital platforms to discover new products, which could help support women's businesses and improve the economic circumstances of their families.
The Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he said, is seeking dialogue and cooperation with relevant institutions to develop practical mechanisms for marketing women's products, both locally and through platforms targeting Arab markets, while taking into account requirements that apply to certain types of products.
Hazboun noted that some products, including cosmetics, face additional requirements and procedures when they are transported across borders. He said the chamber could help women entrepreneurs market such products within Palestinian governorates, describing this as a practical option under current circumstances.
Addressing young women considering starting their own businesses, Hazboun stressed the importance of providing moral support and training during the early stages of a project, alongside a strong focus on marketing.
He also highlighted the need for greater awareness of legal and technical requirements governing products. Some goods, he said, must carry labels providing information such as production and expiry dates and comply with applicable standards.
The Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry will provide consultation and guidance to women entrepreneurs, he said, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and other relevant bodies on standards, testing and required procedures, with the aim of establishing a clear framework for cooperation and implementing it gradually.
Hazboun said the ultimate goal was to create a supportive environment for women entrepreneurs that would help them improve their products, reach consumers and strengthen the contribution of their businesses to families and the local economy.
Katherine Shomali, public relations director at the Nisaa Al-Shams Association, described the launch of the marketplace as a major achievement for the organisation. She said the association conducts studies before launching projects to identify needs within Palestinian society and address existing gaps.
Shomali said the association had carried out several studies on economic empowerment, women's participation in the labour market and small businesses, including a recent study examining the importance of an online marketplace in supporting women entrepreneurs and small-business owners.
The association also surveyed women entrepreneurs and small-business owners to assess whether an online marketplace could help their businesses reach more consumers. The results indicated that such a platform could contribute to increasing production, expanding the visibility of their products and reaching wider groups of consumers.
But Shomali stressed that an online marketplace alone was not enough. Women entrepreneurs also needed further support, particularly training in the use of artificial intelligence tools, product photography, uploading products to the platform and writing clear and effective product descriptions.
She said the association's research and studies provide the foundation for designing projects that address gaps in Palestinian society, particularly those affecting women entrepreneurs.
Shomali stressed the importance of highlighting the role of Palestinian women and giving greater visibility to women who are marginalised or running small businesses. These women, she said, have skills, ideas and businesses of their own, but need support to access wider opportunities.
The association said its efforts to empower women entrepreneurs go beyond simply providing an online space to display products. Training and continued support are also needed to strengthen women's ability to market their work and reach new customers and markets. That approach was reflected in the experiences of several women entrepreneurs taking part in the initiative.
Women business owners said the online marketplace was an important opportunity to introduce their businesses and products to a wider audience, while opening new markets for locally made goods and handicrafts.
Rola Musleh, owner of Marksoap & Candle, said activities organised by the Nisaa Al-Shams Association help introduce the public to women's businesses and their products and enable entrepreneurs to reach audiences beyond Bethlehem governorate.
Musleh said her business offers a diverse range of products, including soap that can replace traditional loofahs, glycerine soap with medical loofahs and gel wax that can be shaped and designed for different occasions. The business also offers UV-printed products and recreational games for children.
She said the value of such events lies in giving the public an opportunity to discover women entrepreneurs, learn where their businesses are based, find out how to contact them and place orders.
Georgina Abu Mahr of Beit Jala, a graduate in industrial chemistry and owner of a business producing natural skincare products, said participation in markets and exhibitions provides women entrepreneurs with an important opportunity to showcase their products and reach new groups of consumers.
Abu Mahr said home-based businesses and handicraft producers need to keep pace with developments through training courses and participation in exhibitions and markets. She described the marketplace initiative as particularly valuable after participants received specialised marketing training that helped them improve the way they photograph and promote their products through digital platforms.
She said the launch of the online store following the training was a practical step towards enabling women entrepreneurs to present their products in one place. The initiative, she added, could open new markets both within and beyond their local communities, creating greater opportunities for their businesses to grow and reach new consumers.
Several women with hearing disabilities who run heritage-based businesses also welcomed the Nisaa Al-Shams Association's initiative, saying the online marketplace provides an important opportunity to introduce their businesses, market their products and reach a wider audience.
Amal Mohammad, owner of Beit Al-Summ for Heritage, said she produces traditional and heritage items and takes pride in her work. She said the online marketplace offers an opportunity to promote her products and introduce them to a larger audience.
Amina Abu Rahma, owner of Anamel Palestine Al-Samma for traditional embroidery, thanked the Nisaa Al-Shams Association for supporting women entrepreneurs through training and marketing. She said this was her first time taking part in an initiative of this kind.
Against the backdrop of the economic challenges facing small businesses, the Nisaa Al-Shams Association says the initiative aims to strengthen the presence of Palestinian women's products in the marketplace and support entrepreneurs through training and digital marketing. The goal is to give them wider opportunities to reach consumers and markets in Palestine, the Arab world and internationally, while strengthening the role of women in the Palestinian economy.
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Aggregated summary from an independent source. Read the original at PNN.