Ramallah – October 15, 2025

The Palestinian Ministry of Finance has signed a new cooperation agreement with the French Consulate General in Jerusalem and the French Development Agency (AFD) to launch a project aimed at supporting and advancing the Palestinian government’s ongoing public finance reform initiatives through the Palestinian Public Finance Institute (PPFI). According to a joint statement, the initiative reaffirms France’s commitment to strengthening Palestinian institutions as a cornerstone for peace, stability, and independence. It is also part of France’s broader support to the budgetary sustainability of the Palestinian Authority, which translates into 18M€ of yearly budgetary bilateral support, and the participation of France in the “Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority”, alongside with a number of international partners.

The signing ceremony took place at the Palestine Public Finance Institute (PPFI) in Ramallah, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Omar Al-Bitar, Minister of Finance; Mr. Nicolas Kassianides, Consul General of France in Jerusalem; Ms. Véronique Sauvat, Director of the AFD Office In Palestine; and Ms. Nihad Younis, Director General of the PPFI, along with senior representatives from the partner institutions.

This new project marks the continuation of a strategic partnership between the Palestinian and French sides that has spanned nearly two decades, focusing on capacity building, governance enhancement, and institutional reform in the field of public finance. The initiative seeks to deepen collaboration between the Ministry of Finance and the PPFI on the Palestinian side, and the AFD, Expertise France, and several key French public institutions, including the French Ministry of Finance, on the French side.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Younis welcomed the respected guests and highlighted the strategic and long-standing Franco-Palestinian relationship, expressing appreciation for the generous and consistent support of the French government, which reflects the strength of bilateral ties.

Mr. Nicolas Kassianides, Consul General of France, commended this renewed cooperation, reaffirming France’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian government’s reform agenda. He emphasized that the new project would usher in a new phase of collaboration focused on modernizing tax systems, enhancing budget management, and strengthening fiscal transparency, all of which are essential for building a resilient, sovereign Palestinian state grounded in reliable domestic revenues and transparent public spending.

In his remarks, H.E. Minister Omar Al-Bitar expressed deep appreciation for France’s continued partnership and support for Palestine at all levels. He stressed that this cooperation comes at a crucial time, as the Palestinian government intensifies its efforts to reform and modernize its public finance system to promote efficiency, accountability, and sustainability.

It is worth noting that the project will be jointly implemented by the Palestinian Institute of Public Finance and Expertise France, ensuring close collaboration and knowledge exchange throughout its duration. The project will run for two years, encompassing multiple components that support the Ministry of Finance’s reform priorities, technical capacity building, and policy studies. In addition, it will foster the establishment of Palestinian–French partnerships aimed at facilitating the transfer of expertise and best practices in public finance management.