PLAZA and the ENASH Project Sign Second Cooperation Agreement to Provide PLAZA Tenants with Interior Design Services

Al-Bireh, Palestine (July, 2003) – The Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers Company (PSE:PLAZA), which has already begun its phased opening of the various businesses of its first PLAZA Shopping Center, and the Palestinian Enterprise Revitalization Project (ENASH) today signed a second Cooperation Agreement under which ENASH will provide interior layout and design technical assistance to PLAZA retail tenants.

ENASH will assist PLAZA tenants to professionally design their retail outlets and to display retail goods in a way that matches the dynamic and quality required by this first-in-Palestine modern retail shopping center. The interior design services will be made available to all PLAZA tenants that contract with the PLAZA Shopping Center.

Retailers interested in joining the family of retailers at the PLAZA Shopping Center may visit the PLAZA headquarters, located in the basement floor at the PLAZA in Al-Bireh next to the Ministry of Planning. A copy of the Retail Space Application, as well as pictures of the project, are available on PLAZA’s website: www.apic-pal.com under “news”.

PLAZA General Manager, Sam Bahour, stated, “We view this second agreement with ENASH as another positive indicator that the retail services community has acknowledged the uniqueness of our project and are fully aligned with our goal of bringing modern shopping to Palestine. Likewise, this agreement renews our commitment to continue bringing structural change to the retail sector in Palestine for the benefit of our customers. We are confident that as we prepare for our October 1st grand opening, we will bring the best of retailers together in a shopping environment that is second to none in Palestine.”

ENASH Chief of Party, Arun Hsu, noted that, “We view the establishment of PLAZA as a clear indication that the Palestinian marketplace has a built in resilience to recover from the current crisis and business opportunities still exist despite the current challenging market conditions. ENASH will assist PLAZA tenants prepare to operate successfully thereby supporting PLAZA’s goal of bringing Palestinian retailing into the 21st century.”

ENASH is sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI). ENASH aims to invigorate economic growth and job creation in the Palestinian Territories by assisting small and medium size private sector firms improve performance and become more competitive. Under the previous Cooperation Agreement, ENASH is assisting qualified PLAZA rental applicants prepare feasibility studies and business plans.

The Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers P.L.C. is a national, publicly traded, Palestinian retailer committed to establishing and operating modern shopping plazas, full-scale supermarkets, food courts and modern children play areas, all aimed at upgrading the Palestinian shopping experience through providing world-class customer service, convenience, quality products, and value pricing – all within a clean, spacious, and dynamic facility in order to provide all customer’s daily needs ‘under one roof’ and contribute to the building of the Palestinian economy.

[Back to News]