Launching of the Eleventh National Forum for Creativity and Excellence under the title “Smart Palestine”

Ramallah - Ofoq News - Prime Minister Dr. confirmed. Muhammad Mustafa said that building a better Palestinian future requires investing in people, knowledge and innovation, employing technology and artificial intelligence in developing economic sectors, improving services provided to citizens, and enhancing the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their ability to face challenges, stressing that technology must be in the service of the Palestinian person and their national rights.

This came during his speech, on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas, at the opening of the eleventh National Forum of the Supreme Council for Creativity and Excellence, which was held today, Monday, under the title “Smart Palestine,” at the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in the city of Al-Bireh, with the participation of a number of members of the Executive Committees of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Central Committee of the Fatah Movement, ministers, ambassadors, experts, academics, innovators, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local and international institutions.

The Prime Minister conveyed the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas and his wishes for success and success for the forum, noting the importance of holding it in light of the political, economic, social and humanitarian challenges facing our people, and the sacrifices they are making in defense of their national project and their right to freedom, independence and the establishment of their independent, sovereign Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Mustafa saluted the farmers and the people of villages and towns who cling to their land during the olive harvest season, despite the settlers’ terrorist attacks, stressing that olives represent a symbol of the Palestinian people’s rootedness in their land and their insistence on remaining there. He appreciated the role of international activists, journalists, and the media in supporting farmers and documenting the attacks, calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities in protecting our Palestinian people, stopping the attacks, and holding their perpetrators accountable.

The Prime Minister explained that the concept of “Smart Palestine” reflects a national ambition to build a state capable of employing knowledge, innovation, artificial intelligence, and modern technologies in developing the health, education, agriculture, industry, energy, and water sectors, improving the performance of institutions, enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy, and opening broader opportunities for youth for work, creativity, and investment.

He pointed out that the government is working to develop legislative and institutional frameworks and digital infrastructure, create the appropriate environment for investment and build national competencies, ensure the safe use of technology, and enhance sovereignty over data and knowledge, pointing to the government’s launch of the National Council for Digital Transformation and Future Technology to coordinate the efforts of the government, the private sector, universities, and competencies in the homeland and the diaspora, and direct them towards common national priorities, in addition to adopting the “Digital Prosperity” plan, its executive program, and national project portfolio, ensuring the transition from separate initiatives to an integrated national program with clear goals. Specific responsibilities and measurable performance indicators.

Mustafa stressed that the goal is not limited to expanding the use of technology, but rather includes improving government services, supporting Palestinian companies operating in the digital economy, creating new opportunities for work and investment, and access to regional and international markets, while ensuring equal opportunities and justice in access to knowledge and services, stressing that Palestinian minds and the competencies of young people, scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs, inside and outside the country, represent a true national wealth, proving their ability to learn, adapt, and create despite the difficult circumstances and restrictions imposed on them.

He also stressed the need to transform these energies into an effective force in the economy and society, by providing an incubating environment for innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs, and enabling them to transform their ideas into practical solutions, productive projects, and job opportunities that contribute to addressing the challenges facing Palestinian society.

Mustafa stressed that the Gaza Strip will remain at the heart of the national project, pointing out that its reconstruction is not limited to rebuilding what was destroyed by the occupation, but rather includes enabling citizens to restore the necessities of life and basic services in the fields of education, health, and communications, and harnessing knowledge and technology to support recovery and rebuilding.

The Prime Minister appreciated the role played by the Supreme Council for Creativity and Excellence in discovering and nurturing creative Palestinian energies, and enhancing cooperation between universities, scientific research centers, the private sector and national institutions, calling for transforming the ideas and projects presented during the forum sessions into opportunities for cooperation, financing and investment, and work programs with clear goals and results, stressing that confronting challenges requires continuing to work with science, creativity, the rule of law and consolidating participation.

Mustafa concluded by emphasizing that challenges will not limit the ambition of our people, and that the future is a responsibility made through knowledge and work. He reiterated his thanks to the Supreme Council for Creativity and Excellence, those organizing the forum, the participants, experts and speakers, and stressing adherence to Palestinian national rights and continuing the march towards freedom and independence.

The Prime Minister toured the “Palestine Creativity” exhibition held on the sidelines of the forum, where he reviewed a group of innovative projects, ideas and initiatives presented by Palestinian schools, universities, companies and institutions, praising the capabilities of creative people, especially youth and students.

For his part, the President of the Supreme Council for Creativity and Excellence, Eng. Adnan Samara said that organizing the forum comes in light of the economic, social and political challenges facing Palestinian society, based on the fact that investing in the Palestinian human being and mind is a national necessity, not a luxury.

He explained that the forum does not aim to organize an additional event, but rather to bring together Palestinian energies in one space to exchange knowledge, open horizons of cooperation, and transform ideas into workable initiatives, pointing to the Council’s role in building an integrated system that embraces creativity and connects innovators with universities, the private sector, institutions, and decision makers.

In turn, the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee, Dr. Haider Hajjah said that the forum attracts more than 800 registered participants and more than 33 speakers, including three main speakers, and includes four discussion tracks and eight dialogue sessions, in addition to keynote speeches, presentations and accompanying activities, with the participation of more than 150 parties within the “Palestine Creativity” exhibition.

The head of the scientific committee, Dr. Maysoon Ibrahim, that the program focuses on four main tracks: how to turn restrictions into growth engines, sustainable financing to build the future in light of crises, creativity in light of geopolitical transformations, and innovative policies to support leadership and creativity, allowing discussion of current challenges and the development of practical and integrated solutions that respond to the needs of Palestinian society.

She added that the forum combines keynote speeches, dialogue sessions, presentation of innovative experiences, and discussion of policies that support entrepreneurship, with the aim of exchanging experiences, enhancing cooperation between universities, companies, innovators, and institutions, and coming up with follow-up recommendations that ensure the sustainability of the impact after the end of its work.

For his part, the Chairman of the “Palestine Creativity” Exhibition Committee, Dr. Samer Jarrar pointed out that the exhibition, which is held on the sidelines of the forum, provides a practical space to display Palestinian projects, ideas, products and initiatives, and highlight the capabilities of students, youth, entrepreneurs, educational institutions and companies.

He explained that the exhibition includes more than 150 participating parties from schools, universities, companies, and creative and innovative institutions, and opens the way for project owners to communicate with supporting institutions and potential partners, and explore opportunities for incubation, development, marketing, and investment.

The forum, which continues over two days, constitutes a national space that brings together knowledge, application and policy dialogue, and connects innovators with institutions and partners, within the framework of a trend aimed at establishing a sustainable Palestinian system for creativity and innovation, and transforming knowledge and technology into practical solutions that enhance the ability of Palestinian society to withstand and develop.