The Palestinian International Cooperation Agency (PICA) held today a meeting with a Belgian delegation, led by Mr. Eric De Muynck, Head of Development Cooperation at the Belgian Consulate, and his Deputy, Mrs. Katelijn De, and Mr. Bart Uyttendaele, Resident Representative of the Belgian Cooperation Agency in Palestine. The meeting was attended by Desk Officer / Third Secretary at PICA, Mrs. Dima Arqan.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the potential for future cooperation and ways to enhance their development relation resulting from their common interests.
PICA Director General, Imad Al-Zuhairi, praised the close relationship with the Kingdom of Belgium and introduced PICA, its objectives, activities, its mandate and related programs.
Al-Zuhairi also presented PICA role in promoting development cooperation and South-South cooperation through the use of Palestinian know-how from inside the Palestinian territories and from the diaspora. He reaffirmed PICA vision « solidarity through Development for a more Resilient World ».
Mr. Eric De Muynck highlighted the importance of joint cooperation and future programs with PICA and the value of establishing a strategic partnership with Belgium and EU countries.
Both parties explored the mechanisms of joint cooperation and partnership framework and the modalities to develop joint programs to contribute to achieving the 2030 UNSDG’s.
They also agreed on the need to implement a number of development interventions in Africa and Other countries falling in the scope of their mutual interest following the signing of a cooperation agreement.
Mr. Bart Uyttendaele reaffirmed the readiness of the Belgian side to hold development consultations to identify the interventions that will be implemented by the two parties and the signing of a cooperation agreement that reflects their common interests. Such agreement falls within the framework of their contributions to international development efforts which third parties may benefit from.