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<p>DFID is promoting economic development which is vital for Palestinian development.
We are providing £15 million (2013-2019) through the Palestinian Market Development
Programme (PMDP) which seeks to improve the competitiveness of 570 Palestinian businesses
and address market failures. So far 190 firms in the West Bank including Areas A,
B, and C have been assisted and were able to develop 117 products and enter 63 new
markets. Through the UN FAO, DFID has helped vulnerable rural farmers in Area C support
their families through increased incomes from agricultural production. We also continue
to fund the development of Palestinian outline plans to improve Palestinian communities’
access to services in Area C.</p><br /><p>The UK remains deeply concerned about the
impact of Israeli restrictions on the movement of people and goods, which continue
to be the main impediment to sustainable economic growth in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories including Area B and C. We have consistently called on Israel to improve
movement and access in the OPTs, including in visits by the Minister of State for
International Development and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office. We fund advisers to support the work of the Office of the
Quartet (OQ) on easing movement and access restrictions in the OPTs and to improve
the environment for businesses operating there.</p>
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