BETHLEHEM, West Bank / PNN / Monjed Jadou -
The board of directors of the Bethlehem Multidisciplinary Industrial Park “BMIP” held its regular meeting this week, reviewing the zone’s performance and discussing measures to further promote investment in what officials describe as the most successful industrial zone in Palestine.
Dr. Imad Al-Zeer, a board member and treasurer of the operating company, said the industrial zone has become a source of pride for Bethlehem governorate and the southern West Bank, citing what he called exceptional growth despite years of economic and political challenges.
In an interview with PNN on the sidelines of the meeting, Al-Zeer said the company has succeeded in creating a competitive investment environment even under difficult economic conditions. Established in 2009 under a Palestinian French presidential-level protocol, the project involved leasing 195 dunams (about 48 acres) of government land to the operating company.
The land was divided into 51 leasable plots, along with internal roads, industrial infrastructure and perimeter fencing. Al-Zeer said the infrastructure development enabled the company to lease 100% of the available land.
According to the company, the zone has attracted 38 investors. Twenty-five factories are fully operational, while seven additional plants have completed preparations and are expected to begin operating this year. The remaining facilities are scheduled to open early next year.
The industrial zone currently employs between 800 and 1,000 workers, a figure expected to rise to 1,500 once all factories are operational, Al-Zeer said.
He estimated total investment in the zone at $100 million to date, spanning at least seven productive sectors, including modern printing, plastics, stone, aluminum, glass and food processing.
Al-Zeer credited cooperation with Palestinian government institutions and French partners for the project’s progress. He said the company secured a French loan that was later converted into a grant, contributing to infrastructure development and positioning the zone as a leading industrial hub in terms of production and job creation.
Despite challenging years marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and war-related economic disruptions, the zone has completed its first and second development phases and continues to focus on expanding operations. Al-Zeer said the initiative is part of a broader effort to diversify Bethlehem’s economy beyond its traditional reliance on tourism and toward productive industrial sectors.
By 2027, he said, the zone is expected to reach 1,500 jobs.
Looking ahead, the company is exploring expansion plans in coordination with the Palestinian Industrial Cities and Free Zones Authority and the ministries of economy and industry. The expansion would include dedicated workshop spaces for Bethlehem’s traditional handicrafts and tourism-related industries, sectors long associated with the city’s identity and exports.
Al-Zeer expressed hope that political and economic conditions will improve, enabling further development and stability. He said products manufactured in the zone are currently marketed domestically and exported both to Israel and abroad, meeting what he described as competitive international standards.
The board has also approved plans to establish a permanent exhibition space within the industrial zone to showcase locally manufactured products directly to consumers. The initiative aims to strengthen public confidence in Palestinian-made goods and highlight their competitiveness at local, regional and international levels.
In closing, Al-Zeer thanked French partners, Palestinian ministries and the Industrial Cities Authority, as well as investors and company staff, describing the zone’s achievements as a collective accomplishment aimed at strengthening Palestinian industry and economic resilience.
