Dubai, October 16, 2024
By sponsoring emerging Palestinian startups led by youth from Al-Quds, the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency (BMAQ) is showcasing their innovations at the third edition of the “Expand North Star” exhibition currently being held in Dubai. This initiative marks a significant shift for the Agency, the executive arm of the Al-Quds Committee chaired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, moving from a focus on social, cultural, and educational support to actively engaging with Jerusalemites in their technological innovation projects.
BMAQ has set up a booth at the third edition of “Expand North Star,” part of GITEX Global 2024, specifically for five emerging Palestinian startups led by young entrepreneurs. This initiative is in line with the Agency’s digital strategy for 2024-2027, which features an incubator designed for Palestinian youth projects focused on innovation and technology (BMAQ Innovation Hub).
Yesterday, at the “Expand North Star” exhibition, the Agency presented the outlines of this strategy under the theme “Digital Development in Service of Economic and Social Development in Al-Quds,” in the presence of the Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Ghita Mezzour, and a select group of leaders from the digital sector.
The five Palestinian startups represent the second cohort of the incubator for emerging Palestinian businesses. They presented their project ideas, which include automated information systems for enhancing e-commerce competitiveness, an AI-supported lending platform, an innovative transportation system, a medical device to improve the safety and efficiency of sternum surgery, and a project offering new solutions for connecting traders and suppliers.
In this context, Zahdi Bali, a young Jerusalemite and founder of Act Plus, expressed his gratitude for this royal initiative facilitated by the BMAQ Agency. He emphasized that this unprecedented support in the technological sector offers a beacon of hope for Al-Quds companies facing significant challenges, such as limited funding and difficulties in participating in international conferences, enabling them to advance their projects.
Similarly, Abdul Karim Nasser Al-Din, founder of Healers Medical Devices, emphasized that the support from the BMAQ Agency opens up real opportunities for Palestinian youth, particularly those in Al-Quds, to develop projects they have long been working on. His colleague, Dawood Darwish, founder of the Metajer platform, stated that the Agency has “provided us with a strong opportunity to expand into the Gulf market and establish relationships with partners and clients in the field of digital technology.” He expressed his gratitude to HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, for this invaluable support, which will help “nurture our emerging businesses and enable them to expand into global markets, including the African market.
In this context, Minister Ghita Mezzour told the Moroccan News Agency, after her meeting with the young Palestinian entrepreneurs, that the ministry, following the royal directives of His Majesty the King, is dedicated to supporting and assisting the BMAQ Agency’s efforts to train young Jerusalemites. This includes providing them with an incubator that enables their participation in relevant international forums, such as GITEX Global and Expand North Star, allowing them to benefit from the advancements in Morocco’s digital sector.
The BMAQ Innovation Hub offers selected Palestinian beneficiaries, chosen according to specific criteria established by a special committee of experts and institutional representatives, an intensive incubation program comprising 190 hours of interactive lessons over five months. This program focuses on entrepreneurial guidance, enhancing project advocacy mechanisms, building confidence and resilience, and providing opportunities to access financing and investment markets through participation in international exhibitions.
The first cohort of emerging Palestinian companies, sponsored by BMAQ through the Innovation Hub, successfully participated in the “GITEX Africa” exhibition in Marrakech last July.
This year’s “Expand North Star 2024” exhibition features over 1,800 startups and more than 1,200 investors from over 100 countries, managing assets exceeding a trillion dollars, according to the organizers. The event brings together prominent founders, investors, and business leaders to explore growth opportunities, allowing them to contribute to shaping the future of the digital economy.
