Palestinian business leaders tour the Midwest

Palestinian business leaders tour the Midwest
Palestinian business leaders tour the Midwest

Palestinian business leaders tour the Midwest

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During the war in Gaza this summer the Palestinian telecoms company Paltel reported a loss of about 30 million dollars, with much of its infrastructure for mobile and phone lines destroyed in the bombing campaign. But the company’s CEO says he thinks the company can make up for the loss, given the growing demand in the region for internet and mobile technology. Ammar Aker, the CEO of Paltel, is currently in the U.S. as part of delegation of business leaders hoping to partner with U.S. companies in the areas of telecommunications, manufacturing, construction, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. The delegation is being hosted by the US State Department, which sees economic development of the West Bank and Gaza as key to achieving peace in the region. Ammar Aker and Michael Ratney, the US Consul General of Jerusalem, join us to talk about economic development in the Palestinian territories. (photo: Smoke rises from Gaza’s electricity distribution company after it was hit by Israeli strikes in the Nusayrat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, July 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra))