Prime Highlights-
- Bank of Palestine graduates 28 businesswomen from seventh and eighth program cohorts
- Over 200 graduates across eight cohorts since the program launched.
Key Facts-
- Program is funded by the Swedish government
- Partners include IFC, Ernst & Young, Businesswomen Forum, and Global Communities Foundation
Background-
The Bank of Palestine held a graduation ceremony on Tuesday for 28 businesswomen who completed the seventh and eighth cohorts of its Palestinian Mini-MBA Program for Business Management, while also announcing the launch of the ninth cohort.
Backed by Swedish government funding, the initiative brings together the International Finance Corporation, Ernst & Young, the Businesswomen Forum, and Global Communities to promote the development and competitiveness of businesses across Palestine.
The ceremony took place at the bank’s Ramallah headquarters. Senior attendees included Mona Khalili, Minister of Women’s Affairs; Dr. Inas Al-Attari, Minister of Labor; and Mohammad Manasra, Deputy Governor of the Palestinian Monetary Authority.
Mahmoud Al-Shawa, General Manager of the Bank of Palestine, said the program has now graduated over 200 businesswomen across eight cohorts and has reached more than 25,000 Palestinian women through its educational outreach. He said the bank’s focus has shifted beyond traditional lending toward building real economic capacity among Palestinian entrepreneurs.
Khalili said investing in women’s capabilities is an investment in the future of the entire Palestinian community. Al-Attari added that entrepreneurship has become one of the most effective ways for women to generate economic opportunities for themselves and the people around them.
George Kaptyas of Global Communities called it a pioneering initiative that has delivered measurable change in the lives of women business owners across the country.
Speaking on behalf of graduates, Raghda Jamous said the program was less a training course and more a journey of self-discovery and ambition.
Businesswoman Rozan Al-Khazindar, a graduate from a decade ago whose company now operates globally, joined via video and urged continued investment in women-led enterprise.
