Sections

The Finance and Personnel Department is considered to be one of the focal departments in the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as it interacts and cooperate with all other departments and centers in the chamber. Whereas it undertakes the tasks of managing the financial and human resources accordingly with the policies and regulations applied to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the administrative system. The department is keen to provide accurate data and information, and to deliver the outputs to the relevant parties in an optimal manner.

Objectives:

1. Preparing financial plans to suit the strategies and objectives of the Chamber, in a manner that ensures increased revenues and rationalization of expenditures.
2. Implementing the financial and administrative policies and regulations specified in the Chamber’s financial manual.
3. Monitoring and controlling financial transactions in accordance with the Chamber's financial system.
4. Preserving the Chamber’s funds and properties and working on developing them.
5. Providing highly qualified human cadres and investing in them as much as possible through the existence of constructive strategies in the field of selection, appointment and development.

Responsibilities of Finance and Personnel Department:

1. Preparing the annual budget, ensuring its approval and following up on its implementation according to the applicable regulations.
2. Assisting and guiding the board by providing relevant financial information during budgeting, accounts to donors and other decision-making activities.
3. Preparing financial reports and statements on monthly basis and when needed.
4. Monitoring the cash flow, bank accounts and doing bank reconciliation on a monthly basis.
5. Preparing financial transactions in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
6. Preparing monthly employees payroll sheets and transactions.
7. Maintaining the financial archive appropriately to ensure easy access to information.
8. Managing employees’ records and updating them periodically.
9. Maintaining confidential personnel files in compliance with applicable legal requirements.

Based on the strong belief of the (BCCI: Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and industry) in the importance of providing high quality services to the registered members in the diverse sectors: commercial, industrial, and service. The different sectors have a major role in supporting and developing the Palestinian economy and due to the importance of well-trained people and the increasing demand from these sectors in this regards; BCCI has founded the TVET Unit in April 2016, to raise the efficiency of workers and improve the condition of vocational and technical education training in the governorate of Bethlehem, hence contribute in the development of the economy. Basically the main objective of this unit is to strengthen the role of vocational training in the governorate, in addition to building the capacity of employees and workers in various sectors in Bethlehem and respond to the continuously changing market needs through customized trainings based on needs- assessment studies.
 

BCCI seeks to keep up with developments in various fields and adopt new technologies to improve the level and quality of services provided to the members. The Chamber founded the Information Technology Center (ITC) to provide technological and technical support to all departments with the Chamber and introduce developed and modern techniques in the fields of management, services and technology. The Center also works to provide technological support and advice to the members in cooperation with other departments.

The idea of establishing the Business Development Center (BDC) was raised in 2008 to expand the scope of services offered by the BCCI to its members and to serve as the technical arm in following-up owners of economic enterprises and help them adapt to the challenges of business in the region. The Center provides new distinctive services distant from the scope of routine services through highly qualified staff. The Center provides consultancy and advice to the owners of commercial and industrial establishments.

In 2007, BCCI established the Business Women Committee, which is considered the first of its kind to be involved with gender issues regarding the economic inequality that facing women in Bethlehem Governorate. BWC aims to follow up on businesswomen issues, develop their capacities, and promote their existence as active members within the Chamber and community. Shortly after that the committee evolved and grow to be Businesswomen Center with a physical office and an employee that manages and coordinate women needs. The center creates empowering economical programs and workshops that meets women needs in the governorate. 

Since its establishment, BWC represents the voice for women business owners and entrepreneurs within the Bethlehem business community which has increased substantially through designing and implementing a series of targeted interventions including: 

1. Building the capacity of business women, women entrepreneurs and youth through providing tailored trainings, and workshops.
2.  Encouraging entrepreneurship by targeting young women to join the center and working to create an integrated strategy with all of the Chamber's departments and centers to qualify them for the labor market.
3. Advocate and promote for women issues in the business sector through advocacy, and conducting workshops seminars, and round table discussions in order to help them reach decision making positions.
4. Activate participation in national teams for drafting relevant policies including: The National Team for Women Employment.

Our Vision

BWC aims, through partnership and integration with partner and supportive institutions that are active in empowering women in the private sector, to achieve its vision of playing a central role in supporting women to become leaders in the visible and invisible economy of Palestine.

Our Mission

Representing women and business owners in the Chamber and providing them with support to develop their businesses, attracting business and craftswomen to interact with the Center activities to raise and develop their capabilities. The center works to achieve these goals through consulting, training and financing services, in addition to working to integrate women to participate more in the business community.

The center objectives

1. Highlighting the achievements of women in various economic sectors.
2. Cooperating with local, Arab and international institutions concerned with economic affairs to benefit from their programs in relation to enhancing women's contribution to economic development.
3. Empowering women and supporting them economically, socially and culturally
4. Improving women skills and expose them to new experiences.
5. Protect women rights and represent their businesses and defend their rights.
6. Creating new generations of young women entrepreneurs
7. Increase and develop their role and participation in society.

The Center services

1. Enhance communication with female members of the General Assembly.
2. Increasing the representation of women in events and activities.
3. Promoting the center and its goals to relevant institutions.
4. Arrange various workshops that meets the needs of women members and beneficiaries.
5. Participate in conferences concerned with the economic and social empowerment of women to exchange experiences.
6. Promote the concepts of social responsibility among women members and beneficiaries.
7. Conduct awareness-raising workshop on various topics for women members and beneficiaries.
8. Organizing periodic exhibitions to market products of female members and beneficiaries.

The Center was established as a non-profit center in April, 2004 under the supervision of the Chamber and in cooperation with various parties in order to support, develop, promote and market all local industries and products. Another aim for its establishment is the organization and development of the commercial and industrial interests of the private sector. The Center is characterized by the presence of a permanent exhibition with a world-class area of 450 m2, which is considered the first promotional tool of its kind in Palestine that aims to display all products manufactured in the governorate and introduce them to the local, regional and international community.

It is considered the backbone of the BCCI, and it includes in its membership owners of the establishments officially licensed in the business sector. As it was optional to the decision of the owner of the establishment to join the General Assembly, it became now mandatory after the approval of the Head of the Palestinian National Authority on the decision of the Palestinian Law of Chambers of Commerce & Industry, which would serve the growth of the Chamber economically through the increase of the number of members and thus work to provide the best services that will meet their needs and achieve their interests in line with their will.