Gaza IT industry bypasses economic crisis
Despite the high unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip, IT freelancing and outsourcing to foreign companies is insulating the industry from the siege and economic crisis.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The recession that has prevailed in the Gaza Strip for several years has prompted IT and communication firms, most of which are run by young people, to outsource their work. This has limited the impact of the economic blockade on these firms, as opposed to other sectors.
Unit One, a company founded by two friends, Ahmad Abu Shaaban and Saadi Lazan, both 33, was one of the first to conclude contracts with firms outside Palestine, whether directly or through other intermediate companies operating in the West Bank.
Abu Shaaban and Lazan established their company just a few years after they graduated from university, and started offering their services to local companies. Because business was slow at first, they turned to international nongovernmental organizations working in the Gaza Strip and tried to get involved in their projects. This helped somewhat and allowed them to stay in business without being affected too much by the economic situation plaguing the Gaza Strip, ruled by Hamas since 2007.
Locals working for remote companies in website programming, software design and digital materials stabilized the work flow, especially after contracts were concluded between IT companies in Gaza and Dutch companies working in the same field. According to industry sources, these Dutch companies, including Lighthouse IP Group, preferred to conclude contracts with companies outside the European Union, given the high quality of production and the reduced labor costs.
