The conference’s participants emphasized on the importance of certain additional ‎considerations relating to minimum wage fixing in Palestine, including that of ‎adopting criteria which will make systems of minimum wages both an effective ‎instrument of social protection and an element in the strategy of economic and ‎social development. They discussed certain proposals with regard to minimum ‎wage fixing machinery and related problems, with special reference to the ‎importance of financial policies, which would increase the effectiveness of such ‎policies to achieve their aims. Also, the participants recommended continuing the ‎development of the industrial regions in all governorates, which would motivate ‎investment.‎

The conference was organized in light of the economic crisis in Palestine as a ‎result of the Palestinian losses resulting from withholding Palestinian clearance ‎revenue, which prompted the Palestinian Government to take severe austerity ‎measures, including reduced salary payments to Government employees.‎

In order to to bolster Palestine’s economic growth, growth strategies for the ‎Palestinian financial and economic sectors comprising of a combination of policy ‎reforms, government projects, and investment opportunities were presented and ‎discussed in this conference.‎

The conference was attended by Prof. Maher Al-Natsheh, President of the ‎University, Eng. Adli Yaiesh, Head of Nablus Municipality, the Deputy ‎Governor of the Palestinian Monetary Authority, economy researchers from the ‎university, academics from the University and other institutes, Dr. Sameh Atout, ‎Dean of The Faculty of Economy and Social Sciences as well as a large number ‎of researchers, economists, academics, and students from An-Najah National ‎University.‎

Prof Natsheh underlined the crucial role of HEIs especially the Palestinian ‎universities in supporting economic development. He highlighted the importance ‎of improving the collaboration among HEIs and the private sector and regional ‎and local actors, even more in this particular moment, to face and recover from ‎the current crisis in Palestine.‎

He added that the University is always ready to support scientific conferences and ‎training workshops, as well as any other activities and events that would ‎strengthen partnerships and cooperation between the University and civil society ‎institutions and the private sector.‎

He also said that the current economic situation will probably have altered the ‎employment situation of the university graduate population. Thus, the University ‎focuses on improving course planning, curriculum design and student guidance ‎systems.‎

The conference focused on two major themes. The first theme was about the ‎economic and administrative sciences. The participants discussed the significance ‎of accounting, economy, the financial sector, the administrative body, and ‎marketing in promoting the comprehensive economic infrastructure in Palestine. ‎As for the second theme, which focused on the Social Sciences, the participants ‎discussed the substantial impact of social media platforms, the current political ‎situation in Palestine, and the social and psychological changes on promoting the ‎comprehensive economic infrastructure in Palestine.‎