A delegation from the Municipal Development and Lending Fund, in collaboration with KfW Development Bank, visited Bethlehem in a significant step to enhance international cooperation and support local development. The delegation, led by the General Manager of the Municipal Development and Lending Fund, Mr. Mohammed Al-Ramahi, included representatives from KfW, such as Ms. Christine Laibach, a member of the Executive Board of KfW Group, Mark Engelhardt, Director of the Middle East Department at KfW Development Bank, Martin Kories, Advisor to the Executive Board of KfW Development Bank, David Kuntz, Director of KfW Development Bank in Ramallah, and Wadah Hamdallah, Deputy Director of KfW Development Bank, as well as the Technical Supervisor at the Fund, Engineer Ashraf Qurei.

The purpose of this visit was to review the projects that have been implemented with the support of the German Development Bank through the Municipal Development and Lending Fund. The delegation met with the Mayor of Bethlehem, Hanna Hanania, who expressed his gratitude for their continuous support in developing the city and its services. He also provided the delegation with an overview of the city's situation, the political challenges it faces, and the daily practices of the occupation against the Palestinian people. He discussed the significant challenges the city faces and the urgent projects needed in tourism, culture, and infrastructure. Bethlehem, being the birthplace of Christ, serves millions of visitors annually, putting a considerable burden on the city.

Mr. Mohammed Al-Ramahi, the General Manager of the Municipal Development and Lending Fund, provided a detailed explanation of the Fund's projects and its operations in previous stages. He expressed his special thanks to the delegation and the German Development Bank for their continuous support of the Fund's efforts to achieve local development and enhance international partnership. The importance of this collaboration in advancing projects and achieving local development goals was emphasized.

Ms. Christine Laibach, a member of the delegation, expressed her pleasure at visiting Bethlehem for the first time in her history. She emphasized the importance of understanding the city's reality and the suffering of the Palestinian people under daily occupation. She expressed her willingness to contribute to solving the problems and difficulties faced by municipalities and supporting them in developing local services for the benefit of the local community.

On the other hand, Engineer Ziad Al-Sayeh, the Director of Projects at the Municipality, provided a detailed explanation of the projects that have been implemented through the Municipal Development and Lending Fund in previous years. He highlighted the importance of these projects and the Fund's role in supporting municipalities and overseeing their daily work.