Muhammad Mustafa Meets IFC Regional Director Aftab Ahmed in Ramallah to Expand Palestine Investment Programs

Prime Minister Dr. Muhammad Mustafa met in his office in Ramallah with Aftab Ahmed, the regional director for the Middle East at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to discuss mechanisms for enhancing the IFC’s programs and activities in Palestine.

“RAMALLAH, May 21, 2026 (WAFA) – Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa met Thursday, at his office in Ramallah, with Aftab Ahmed, the Regional Director for the Middle East at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to discuss mechanisms for enhancing the IFC's programs and activities in Palestine”

WAFA Agency

The meeting, held Thursday, also included Stephen Amblad, the World Bank Country Director for Palestine, Rafif Darwish, the IFC Country Director for Palestine, Ayman Ismail, Head of the Palestinian Energy Authority, and Raed Muqbel, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Local Government.

وكالة صدى نيوز

Mustafa said the government is working to create a suitable environment for investment and to encourage developmental and productive projects, particularly in the sectors of health, energy, and digital transformation, to improve services and strengthen economic and environmental sustainability.

He praised the IFC’s role in supporting the Palestinian private sector through “providing funding and technical expertise,” and he also praised the World Bank’s “exceptional” support for Palestine.

The talks covered renewable energy projects, solid waste management, digital transformation, healthcare, energy efficiency programs, and green buildings, alongside the solid waste-to-energy effort focused on the “Zahret Al-Finjan” project.

A central item in the meeting was accelerating and developing the solid waste-to-energy project, particularly the “Zahret Al-Finjan” project, described as one of the leading strategic projects in Palestine.

WAFA said the project is “crucial for improving solid waste management and converting it into a source of alternative energy,” linking it to reducing environmental impact and promoting reliance on renewable energy sources.

وكالة صدى نيوز

وكالة صدى نيوز similarly described the “Zahret Al-Finjan” project as transforming solid waste into a source for producing alternative energy, while contributing to reducing environmental impact and enhancing reliance on renewable energy sources.

Mustafa affirmed that the government will continue to provide all necessary facilities for developers and companies interested in implementing developmental projects, as long as there is seriousness and readiness to invest and develop.

For his part, Aftab Ahmed reaffirmed the IFC’s commitment to supporting key development projects in Palestine, particularly in the sectors of healthcare, energy, and digital transformation.

Separately, the Palestine Exchange announced the formation of a new seven-member Board of Directors to oversee the next four-year term.

“Watan News: The Palestine Exchange announced the formation of a new seven-member Board of Directors to oversee the next four-year term”

Wakala Watan Lil-Anbaa

The new board includes Ms. Rola Shannar as Chair, Messrs. Jafar Abu Lubdeh as Vice Chair, Dr. Ziad Al-Burghouti, Khaled Anabtawi, Tariq Zahran, Firas Al-Sheikh, and Rami Khouri.

Watan News said the board blends veteran members from previous terms with new members from leadership and entrepreneurial talent, and it described the board as possessing “distinguished competencies and diverse expertise in investment.”

It also named Rami Khouri as the leading candidate, noting he serves as CEO of MEII Capital Management and Deputy CEO of the MEII Middle East Investment Initiative.

The announcement described Khouri’s background as including Senior Investment Manager at Denmark’s IFU in Copenhagen, Deputy Team Leader on the Palestinian Financial Sector Reform Project funded by USAID, and Investment Analyst at the IFC.