A tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed between the Union of Stone and Marble, the Contractors Union, and the Engineers Syndicate.

Union of Stone and Marble Establishes Strategic Partnership

A tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed between the Stone Industry Union, the Contractors Union, and the Engineers Syndicate.

In light of strategic joint efforts to enhance the standing of Palestinian national products, particularly the stone industry, the Stone and Marble Industry Union in Palestine organized a strategic tripartite meeting of the boards of directors of the three partners (the Stone Industry Union, the Contractors Union, and the Engineers Syndicate). The meeting, sponsored by the General Union of Palestinian Industries and the Standards Institution, aimed to establish the foundations for comprehensive joint action to achieve the principle of "National Product First." This initiative seeks to strengthen the position of Palestinian national products, especially the stone and marble industry, recognizing them as symbols of resilience and belonging, and as one of the most important pillars of construction and development in Palestine.

Mr. Nassar Nassar opened his remarks by welcoming the partners: the Contractors Union, represented by its president, Dr. Ahmed Al-Qadi; the Engineers Syndicate, represented by its president, Eng. Tariq Al-Zarou; and the Standards Institution, represented by its director general, Eng. Haider Hajjah, along with members of the Federation's boards of directors and partners, emphasized that this meeting is not merely an administrative or coordination agreement, but rather a practical implementation of a comprehensive national vision based on integration among these key sectors. This integration aims to enhance self-reliance and complements the implementation of the mandatory purchase of national products system No. (3) of 2025, which grants national products a 15% price advantage. Through this meeting, the role of the private sector is strengthened, and fundamental pillars are established, stemming from our national responsibility and pivotal role in embedding a culture of national products at every stage of design, implementation, and supervision, ultimately leading to a firmly established general culture that supports national industry.

He pointed out that the Stone and Marble Industry Federation believes that genuine partnership is the best way to guarantee this, ensuring quality supply, sound implementation, and adherence to technical specifications and standards, befitting the reputation of Palestinian stone, which has always been synonymous with excellence in the region and the world.

He emphasized that, as partners, we must confront one of the most serious challenges facing our nation: the unprecedented rise in unemployment rates. This can only be achieved through a genuine partnership with our partners in the contracting and engineering sectors. Perhaps the numbers speak louder than words regarding the impact of locally produced goods on stimulating the economy and creating jobs. If producing just 150 square meters of Palestinian stone employs approximately 15 workers daily, then importing 500,000 square meters of imported stone simply means losing nearly 50,000 job opportunities every day.

For his part, Dr. Ahmed Al-Qadi, President of the Palestinian Contractors Union, affirmed that we view this event with a national perspective. This partnership is a national duty, embodied in joining forces to support and promote our Palestinian products, particularly building stone. We are certainly contributing to providing job opportunities for our youth under the exceptional circumstances we are experiencing. Moreover, we are expanding the base of opportunities in the future and paving the way for a vibrant economic cycle built on a solid foundation. This foundation rests on the belief that we possess the solutions and the capabilities to achieve progress, and this will be among our top priorities at the Contractors Union.

In his address, the President of the Palestinian Engineers Association, Eng. Tariq Al-Zarou, emphasized that locally produced goods should be the mandatory choice in construction projects due to their vital role in strengthening resilience and national development. He stressed that the Association will work to enforce oversight of engineering offices to ensure the specifications for high-quality locally manufactured products. This reflects the Association's vision of promoting integration between the productive and professional sectors. He noted that current national challenges necessitate concerted efforts and cooperation from all institutions.

For his part, Eng. Haider Hajjah, Director General of the Palestinian Standards Institution, affirmed the importance of mandating the specifications for locally manufactured products. He pointed out that the Anti-Substitution Committee is working to reduce the import of foreign products and encourage local substitution. He also discussed the expansion of Palestinian exports following the signing of mutual recognition agreements for