The Palestinian Information Technology Association of Companies, a legally registered entity as a trade association, was founded in early 1999 in Ramallah, Palestine, as a membership-based organization for locally registered companies specialized in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT). PITA began operations in the city of Ramallah in the West Bank with one employee and a member base of 25 Palestinian ICT companies.

Through dedicated work and transparent system, PITA evolved as a strong organization representing 84 major companies from various sub-sectors including hardware distributors, software development firms, office automation vendors, internet service providers, telecommunications, IT consulting, and IT training.   PITA has become the basic pillar in defending the interests of the ICT sector and the main reference on ICT in Palestine.

PITA has a strong and active elected Board of Directors who is made of executives of small and large size Palestinian companies. PITA also has a high caliber managerial team to coordinate daily activities and provide professional services to the members and the industry.

PITA has tight cooperation with different national and international organizations such as Palestinian National Authority ministries, World Bank, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and Development Alternative Incorporation (DAI), to provide high technical assistance to its members and the ICT sector in general. To facilitate cooperation among its members and with foreign-based ICT organizations, PITA is actively coordinating with local legislative bodies to create an attractive investment environment by upholding Intellectual Property Rights and adopting laws that are vital for the development of the sector.
The main objectives of PITA:

• To organize, promote and support, locally and internationally, the interests of the members
• To represent and defend the ICT private sector’s interests with the government through active dialogue and solid advocacy policy
• To uphold intellectual property rights locally and internationally
• To help members advance their skills 
• To help organize the market and open new business opportunities
• To strengthen relationship among members and with other economic sectors

Palestine Trade Center –Paltrade
www.paltrade.org

The main objective of Paltrade is to lead the process of development and contribute to the promotion of the Palestinian trade as an effective element to realize sustainable development of the national economy.

As a national institution for the development and promotion of trade, and due to the fact that it represents more than 230 leading Palestinian companies; Paltrade promotes and creates a competitive environment for commercial activities.  It also works to improve trade competition by promoting trade and strengthening private sector companies.

The activities and services of Paltrade go in line with strategies oriented on a sector basis for trade development. These activities are enhanced by assessment of opportunities and obstacles of different sectors.

These strategies are utilized through integral services and activities, in order to activate the basic sectors upholding their ability of export and competition in the targeted markets.

The mission of Paltrade is to develop trade through:

1. Support of developing a competitive environment suitable for Palestine trade activities
2. Promotion of Palestine trade and opening new markets
3. Adoption of ideal practices and international standards for the international trade of specialized trade companies and institutions
4. Ensuring the commercial information which leads to the improvement of trade performance and its competitive ability