As part of its central role in enhancing the legal environment, developing, and regulating the non-banking financial sectors, the PCMA carried out a series of awareness and communication activities during 2024. These efforts were aligned with its strategic objectives outlined in the 2021-2025 five-year plan and the tasks assigned to it under the legislation and laws governing its work.
These activities focused on raising public awareness about the importance of the non-banking financial sector and enhancing the financial literacy of citizens in the various areas overseen by the PCMA. The PCMA also sought to strengthen its relationships both domestically and internationally by conducting multiple meetings and implementing targeted initiatives aimed at expanding its influence and reinforcing partnerships.
The war launched by the Israeli occupation on the southern governorates of the country during the past year cast a shadow over various aspects of economic life, necessitating intensified awareness and communication efforts by the PCMA to keep pace with the challenges.
Below, we present the most prominent awareness activities and programs implemented during the year 2024:
The PCMA, in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), launched a university course titled “Financial Literacy” in the presence of PCMA Chairman Ammar Aker and General Director Barraq Al Nabulsi, with the participation of representatives from the PCMA, the course developers, and representatives from several Palestinian universities.
The PCMA and Al-Quds Open University signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The MoU was signed on behalf of the PCMA by its Chairman, Mr. Ammar Aker, and on behalf of the university by its President, Prof. Dr. Samir Najdi.
This memorandum reflects the desire of both parties to strengthen avenues of cooperation in order to achieve their shared strategic goals, in a way that reflects a spirit of collaboration while ensuring the independence of each party in terms of vision, mission, and purpose. It also aims to enhance non-banking financial awareness, as well as engage in various fields and programs related to knowledge exchange, student and academic capacity building, and the development and integration of specialized educational courses.
The memorandum also includes areas of cooperation related to financial literacy and the promotion of financial inclusion in Palestine, based on the University’s orientation toward strengthening financial and banking knowledge among its students, and in alignment with the national five-year strategy (2018–2025) adopted by the PCMA as part of its vision to create financial inclusion in Palestine.
The PCMA participated alongside the main organizer of the award, the Network of Economic Journalists within the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, in the “Palestine Economic Journalism Award” in its second edition.
The award was sponsored by several partner entities, including the Palestine Investment Fund, the Palestine Monetary Authority, and the Association of Banks in Palestine.
Attending the event on behalf of the PCMA were Mr. Ammar Aker, Chairman of the Board, Mr. Barraq Al Nabulsi, General Director, several department directors, as well as the PCMA’s Public and International Relations staff.
Aker emphasized that the existential threats facing the national cause make it more urgent than ever for all sectors and components of Palestinian society, particularly the governmental, banking, and non-banking financial sectors, to strengthen cooperation and partnership. This must go hand in hand with the media, journalism, and components of Palestinian civil society to enhance our capacity to respond to these challenges and strengthen citizens’ resilience.
The PCMA’s participation in the award also reflects its commitment to developing the skills and capabilities of Palestinian journalists, enabling them to cover economic and financial topics with high professionalism.
The Palestine Capital Market Authority, in partnership with the Palestine Exchange, participated in the activities of “World Investor Week 2024” at the beginning of October 2024. The event was held under the theme “Technology, Digital Finance, Crypto Assets, and Sustainable Finance,” marking the seventh time it has been conducted in Palestine as part of the annual initiative launched by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), and in partnership with the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), which includes many securities regulators and stock exchanges from more than 120 countries worldwide.
The participation of the Palestine Capital Market Authority and the Palestine Exchange, this year, aligned with the exceptional circumstances following a full year of the Israeli aggression and its repercussions. The participation was limited to a series of awareness sessions at three Palestinian universities (An-Najah National University, Al Istiqlal University, and Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie). Additionally, activities were activated on social media platforms, focusing on key themes including sustainability, technology and digital finance, and crypto assets.
It is worth noting that the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) is the highest professional body in the field of regulation and supervision of capital markets. It is responsible for setting the international and technical standards that member securities regulators must follow. It should also be noted that Palestine has held full membership in IOSCO through the Palestine Capital Market Authority since 2014.
The PCMA Organizes an Interactive Workshop on the Securities Sector
The PCMA held an interactive workshop focused on the securities sector, attended by representatives from licensed securities companies and a number of investors, hosted by economic expert Dr. Naser Abdelkarim.
During the workshop, the PCMA presented some statistical data on investor transactions in the Palestine Exchange, as well as in forex markets, aiming to understand investor behavior, the challenges they face in the local market, and to raise financial awareness for making sound investment decisions, regardless of the investment tools used.
This workshop is part of the PCMA’s ongoing awareness efforts to protect participants and investors in the non-banking financial sector, ensuring the sustainability and continuity of these sectors, in a way that serves the public interest and contributes to advancing the national economy.
The PCMA Organizes an Interactive Workshop on the Securities Sector
As part of its
ongoing efforts to enhance protection and awareness in capital markets, in the
last quarter of 2024, the PCMA launched a comprehensive digital awareness
campaign targeting the securities sector, with a special focus on forex
activity.
This campaign
coincided with the licensing of three companies to operate in this activity,
and was conducted through social media platforms and Google, alongside a series
of specialized radio episodes and podcasts.
The campaign
included producing and preparing a set of simplified and engaging educational
videos designed to deliver guidance messages to the general public, enhancing
their understanding of the nature and risks of forex activity. It also involved
preparing and publishing multiple multimedia economic reports.
Through this
campaign, the PCMA aims to raise awareness among market participants,
investors, and the public about the risks of forex activity, warning against
dealing with platforms or entities not licensed by the PCMA. The campaign also
included educational videos aimed at promoting a culture of safe and informed
investment among the general public.
This campaign represents part of the PCMA’s continuous efforts to protect market participants across the sectors it supervises, especially the securities sector, and reflects the PCMA’s commitment to promoting safe investment culture and encouraging responsible trading practices in the Palestinian market.
