Even as brisk preparations were on for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017 in Hyderabad to bring 1,500 entrepreneurs and delegates together, the lone start up from Gaza invited to the event was unlikely to make it.
Reham Abuolwan, a 27 year old Palestinian whose Walking Tech is a rare hard ware based start up in Gaza, was disappointed that paper work for her Indian visa was delayed and she was unlikely to make it in time due to the travel restrictions.
Reham told the local media from Gaza over phone that she will not be able to pass through Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt as priority was given only to the sick people, students and people with residency permits of other countries. Her visa process was delayed due to error in documentation and it was unlikely to be cleared in time for her travel.
To travel through the Erez crossing between Palestinian territory and Israel she needs permission from Israeli authorities. “I have not received the permission from Israel”, she said. She was required to apply for the permission two months in advance.
Reham, who had launched her startup along with another Palestinian in 2014, said that the US consulate was trying to help her in securing the permit. “But a week ago I received the a mail from the consulate saying they can not assist me with the permit process”.
For Reham such disappointment was not new. She had faced similar situation when she was invited to Gulf Information Technology Exhibition in Dubai earlier this year. Earlier she was also invited to a conference at Istanbul in Turkey. “I could not travel to both the places because of the restrictions”, she said.
Restrictions on procuring electronic devices like motion censors, micro controller, and wire less charging system to develop a prototype of product by her startup was also coming in the way of the progress of The Walking Tech. the startup was working to develop product based on Footprint Insole Technology.
3-day GES, starting from Tuesday will have the theme of “women first- prosperity for all”. The event will be inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump.