▁with ▁Israel is ▁and ▁Palest ini ans , ▁and ▁ur ged ▁the ▁sides ▁to ▁continue ▁working ▁towards ▁completion . ▁Japan ▁also ▁indicated ▁specific ▁support ▁for ▁an ▁ag ro - indust rial ▁park ▁to ▁be ▁built ▁near ▁Jer ich o , ▁and ▁said ▁it ▁hopes ▁to ▁begin ▁construction ▁by ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁ ▁The ▁Beth le hem ▁Small ▁Enter prise ▁Center ▁opened ▁in ▁early ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁with ▁fund ing ▁from ▁Germany , ▁and ▁has ▁helped ▁Palest in ian ▁small ▁business es ▁in ▁various ▁areas , ▁such ▁as ▁helping ▁printer s ▁to ▁improve ▁software ▁and ▁o live ▁wood ▁craft s men ▁to ▁market ▁their ▁products . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁the ▁economy ▁in ▁the ▁West ▁Bank ▁improved ▁gradually . ▁Econom ic ▁growth ▁for ▁the ▁occupied ▁areas ▁reached ▁about ▁ 4 - 5 % ▁and ▁un emp loyment ▁dropped ▁about ▁ 3 %. ▁Isra eli ▁figures ▁indicated ▁that ▁w ages ▁in ▁the ▁West ▁Bank ▁rose ▁more ▁than ▁ 2 0 % ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁and ▁trade ▁rose ▁about ▁ 3 5 %. ▁Tour ism ▁ ▁in ▁Beth le hem ▁increased ▁to ▁about ▁twice ▁its ▁previous ▁levels , ▁and ▁tour ism ▁increased ▁by ▁ 5 0 % ▁in ▁Jer ich o . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁an ▁economic ▁bo om ▁began ▁with ▁growth ▁reaching ▁ 7 ▁percent , ▁higher ▁than ▁in ▁Israel ▁or ▁the ▁West . ▁Tour ism ▁to ▁Beth le hem , ▁which ▁had ▁double d ▁to ▁ 1  