RAMALLAH / PNN /The Palestinian Ministry of Finance signed a cooperation agreement with the Consulate General of France in Jerusalem and the French Development Agency (AFD) to launch a new project aimed at supporting the Palestinian government’s efforts to reform public finance through the Palestinian Institute of Public Finance.According to a joint statement, the initiative reaffirms France’s commitment to strengthening Palestinian institutions as a cornerstone for peace, stability, and future statehood. The project forms part of France’s broader support for the sustainability of the Palestinian budget, which includes an annual €18 million direct financial contribution and participation in the “Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority,” alongside other international partners.The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Palestinian Institute of Public Finance in Ramallah, attended by Finance Minister Omar Al-Bitar, French Consul General Nicolas Kassianides, AFD Country Director Véronique Sauvaire, and the institute’s Director General Nihad Younes, along with senior representatives of partner institutions.The project builds on more than two decades of Palestinian-French cooperation in capacity building, governance, and institutional reform within the public finance sector. It will deepen collaboration between the Palestinian Ministry of Finance and the Institute of Public Finance, and French institutions including AFD, Expertise France, and France’s Ministry of Finance.In her opening remarks, Nihad Younes welcomed the participants, praising the “strategic and long-standing partnership” between Palestine and France and expressing appreciation for France’s continuous support, which she said “reflects the strength of bilateral relations between the two countries.”French Consul General Nicolas Kassianides highlighted France’s renewed commitment to supporting the Palestinian reform agenda, noting that the new project will focus on modernising the tax system, improving budget management, and strengthening financial transparency — key pillars for building “a strong, sovereign Palestinian state based on sustainable domestic revenues and transparent public spending.”Finance Minister Omar Al-Bitar expressed his deep gratitude to France for its consistent support to Palestine at all levels, stressing that the partnership comes at a critical time as the Palestinian government intensifies efforts to modernize and reform its public finance system to enhance efficiency, accountability, and sustainability.The two-year project will be jointly implemented by the Palestinian Institute of Public Finance and Expertise France, ensuring close coordination and knowledge exchange throughout its duration. It will focus on supporting the Ministry of Finance’s reform priorities, developing technical capacity, conducting policy studies, and strengthening Palestinian-French partnerships to promote the exchange of best practices in public finance management.