Jerusalem, November 19, 2025 - The Consulate General of France in Jerusalem, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the NGO Development Center (NDC), in partnership with Al-Quds University, celebrate today the official opening of the Business Center for Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (BCITE) at the historic Qasr Al-Hamrah Building in East Jerusalem. The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Mr. Nicolas Kassianides, Consul General of France in Jerusalem, the AFD Country Director in Jerusalem, Mrs. Véronique Sauvat, the NGO Development Center’s Director, Mr. Ghassan Kasabreh, and representatives from the European Union, KfW and UNDP.
In his opening remarks, the Chancellor of Al-Quds University, Professor Imad Abu Kishek, welcomed the attendees and expressed his gratitude to the BCITE donors for their generous support of this flagship project, that will serve as Al-Quds University’s main driver of innovation and startup development.
This achievement of this project was made possible through AFD’s generous support to Al-Quds University to complete the second phase of the BCITE renovation. AFD had provided a grant of EUR 1.2 million to Al-Quds University through the “Action for East Jerusalem Identity and Resilience (AJIR)” programme, which is implemented by NDC. Through this project, the historic building of Qasr Al-Hamrah has been fully renovated and equipped with modern facilities, transforming it into a vibrant hub for innovation and digital creativity.
Based on that, the BCITE will provide an integrated platform for entrepreneurship education, business incubation, and cooperative growth, linking students and young entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, and industry partners, and will promote innovation, self-employment, and economic resilience across East Jerusalem and Palestine.
"France, through the Agence Française de Développement, is proud to have supported the renovation of this historic building with a grant of EUR 1.2 million under the AJIR programme, implemented by the NGO Development Center. This contribution has helped transform Qasr Al-Hamrah into a modern, vibrant hub dedicated to innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship,” said Nicolas Kassianides, Consul General of France in Jerusalem.
The NDC Director, Mr. Ghassan Kasabreh, stated that “Today’s celebration is a proud moment for all of us involved in this project, including NDC, the Consulate General of France, and the AFD.” Mr. Kasabreh added that “As part of AJIR+, we are proud to continue our partnership with Al-Quds University and to participate in the efforts to operationalize the BCITE through a new project that aims at empowering young women in Jerusalem by equipping them with market-driven digital skills and entrepreneurial competencies. Through targeted training, personal coaching, and networking opportunities, the project will enable participants to establish sustainable income sources and integrate into local and international markets. It will also foster a new generation of trainers and role models, contributing to long-term community resilience and economic inclusion.”
It's worth mentioning that AJIR programme seeks to strengthen the resilience of Jerusalemites and to promote social cohesion within their communities, with a special focus on youth and marginalized groups. AJIR also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its three key pillars: (I) Supporting youth by financing education and cultural infrastructure; (II) Meeting the needs of vulnerable populations through equitable access to essential services; and (III) Building the institutional capacities of civil society organizations.
The first phase of AJIR (2020-2024) provided funding to 20 projects with a total value of EUR 8 million and was concluded successfully by the end of 2024. The tangible results achieved, coupled with the scale of the needs and the strength of the partnership between AFD and NDC, paved the way for the launch of the second phase – AJIR+ in August 2023 with an additional budget of EUR 8 million. AJIR+ continues to pursue the same objectives: improving access to education and essential services for the most vulnerable communities of East Jerusalem, while fostering resilience and inclusion.
