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A new smart ID card for a better security control of foreign labor in Lebanon

26-11-2015

The Labor Minister, Sajaan Azzi, announced yesterday the launching early next year of the Smart ID Card for foreign workers which he added falls as part of a bigger endeavor. Azzi who was speaking at a press conference in the presence of Hisham Itani, Chair of Encrypt firm in charge of the project stated that as of 1/1/2016, the ministry will start issuing this new smart cards for all foreign workers from all nationalities and sectors of the economy, stressing that the introduction of the new document will enhance transparency and provide increased security and inspection for each and every foreign worker on the Lebanese territory. The smart cards, Azzi explained, “will increase cooperation with the security apparatus and between the ministry and various employers and work institutions.” “Through these smart cards,” Azzi confirmed, “attempts at fraud and cheating will come to an end, because through the fingerprint on the card, the government can identify the worker’s place of work.” The minister also revealed that the cost of the first phase of the project stood at LBP 6 billion. For his part, Itani noted that the new smart card is one of the best in the world and that it complies with international standards. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, November 26, 2015)
 

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Bou Diab among the most economically influential Arab women for 2015

26-11-2015

The chief operating officer at Al-Mawared Bank, Nahla Khadaj Bou Diab was named as one of the leading Arab women in the field of economy and banking for the year 2015 on the sidelines of the 20th edition of the Annual Arab Banking Conference organized last week in Beirut by the Union of Arab Banks under the patronage of PM Tamam Salam. Bou Diab’s career extends over more than 32 years of management and leadership experience in Canada and Lebanon. She spearheaded the restructuring of many organizations, notably the Central Bank of Canada before she moved back to Lebanon in 1997 to start the Management Consulting Services for Ernst & Young. She is currently the COO of Al Mawared Group and teaches in AUB’s Executive MBA program and is pursuing her doctoral degree in Business Administration. (Al Mustaqbal, November 26, 2015)
 

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LISA presses for adoption of women’s quota in electoral laws in Lebanon

26-11-2015

The Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs (LISA) emphasised yesterday the need to adopt the women’s quota system in elections and for a transitional period in order to rectify the present gender gap which is deep-rooted in political life as a result of cultural and social norms. A number of recommendations were issued following the LISA meeting which was held under the title: ‘Strengthening the Role of Women in Political Life’ which called for the following:: encourage the formation of a broad coalition that will act as a pressure group to achieve equal gender representation in all areas;  focus on political parties in order to readdress the present unequal situation; reform of the electoral law by lowering the voting age and granting expatriates the rights of voting; offering financial aid to women candidates; the setting up of a special ministry for women and human rights affairs, and finally, stimulating the work of the grievances office for investigating violations of women’s rights. )Al Mustaqbal, November 26, 2015(
 

 

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Hariri criticizes gender discrimination in Nationality while honoring 90 military women

25-11-2015

On the occasion of the national flag day, the “National Committee for the Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Greater Lebanon” honored last Saturday some 90 Lebanese women members of various security and military institutions and two women UNIFIL officers. The event took place at the Pine Palace, under the patronage of Prime Minister Tamam Salam represented by his wife and in the presence of MP Bahiya Hariri and a crowd of social and political dignitaries. In her speech, Hariri lauded the efforts by those women “who take on such demanding responsibilities in the Army, the General Security Forces, the Internal Security Forces and the State Security”, and those of the only Lebanese women at the Civil Aviation institution and two women UNIFIL officers. Hariri, while pointing out how women face challenges with courage, hope, determination and devotion, she stigmatized the denial of women’s rights to transmit the nationality to their children, a denial of the constitution which she described as intolerable. (Al Mustaqbal, November 22, 2015)
 

 

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The role of agriculture and food processing in the economy of Lebanon

25-11-2015

In cooperation with the Embassy of Netherlands, the Chamber of Trade, Industry and Agriculture for Beirut and Mount Lebanon organized yesterday a seminar on the latest innovations in food processing and agricultural sectors in the presence of the Dutch Ambassador. Also present were the head of the Agricultural Committee at the Federation of Chambers, Rafleh Debbaneh and owners of various national companies active in the field. Debbaneh pointed out that “agriculture in Lebanon can only survive through innovation, particularly through technical advancement that improves the quality of production, widen the range of products and reduces cost while maintaining quality,” as he said. For her part, Ambassador Hester Somsen stressed that her consulate seeks to facilitate the exchange of scientific and technological expertise in the field of agricultural food industries which in turn will result in boosting production. Innovative approaches, she added, can assist in the expansion of export outlets to the EU countries and in diversifying the client and partner base, especially following the closure of land borders with Syria. “Lebanon needs to adapt to the new emerging situation in order to protect the agricultural sector which represents nearly 5% of GDP, employs 6%, of the working force, notably in those areas most affected by the war in Syria, and accounts for around 19% of  total Lebanese exports,” Somsen added.
An Nahar, Al Diyar, As Safir, November 25, 2015
 

 

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Labor Minister criticizes “laziness” and calls for less ‘Syrianization’ of the labor market

25-11-2015

The Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi headed a meeting on November 13 of the Sustained Dialogue Committee which comprises representatives of the government, the economic associations and the general trade union, in order to discuss foreign workforce competition. Azzi, while calling for ending what he termed the “Syrianization’ and ‘foreignization’ of the domestic labor market, criticized the Lebanese labor force for its laziness, pointing that 25% of the unemployed Lebanese “do not take pains to find a job”. He pressed for better coordination between the various production sectors and the National Employment Office. Likewise, the Sustained Dialogue Committee urged Parliament to accelerate the endorsement of two draft laws related to the pension plan and the post retirement social and health benefits for state employees. The Committee also demanded the expansion of the health coverage to include new segments of society, notably, employers. 
In the same vein, the Business Administration School at La Sagesse University, hosted yesterday the First Vice-Governor at Banque Du Liban, Raed Sharafeddine, to lecture on ‘Recruitment in Lebanon: Challenges and Opportunities’, where he underscored the importance of education as the essential catalyst of economy, particularly of the knowledge economy. Sharafeddine stressed the need to adopt new business concepts that will motivate youth entrepreneurship, especially with the generous funding prospects available in the form of loans subsidized through the Central Bank or through the launch of new projects in the field of technology, in collaboration with the commercial banking institutions. (Al-Nahar & Al-Diyar 14, 25 November 2015)
 

 

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Booming investment in food industry in Lebanon

24-11-2015

The Chair and General Director of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), Nabil Itani, said that the year 2015 witnessed a remarkable increase in investments in food industry, despite the internal political turmoil and regional conflicts. Itani pointed out that IDAL received some 13 new investment projects in the agricultural food industry sector during the present year, exceeding a total value of USD 70 million, while pointing out that the majority of investors were Lebanese nationals. Itani noted that while the regional tension and the resulting sharp fall in the prices of oil took their toll on Arab Gulf investments in Lebanon, there was a growing interest worldwide and within the country in food safety and food security, adding that food industry recorded one of the best performances of the industrial sector in Lebanon. (Daily Star, November 14, 2015)
 

 

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Unemployment among Lebanese women reaches 35%, new special funds needed to support women entrepreneurship

24-11-2015

The president of the Lebanese Businesspeople Association (RDCL), Fuad Zamakhal, acknowledged that unemployment among women in Lebanon is excessively high, almost touching on 35%, which is quite an alarming situation. Zamakhal who was speaking at the French Senate in Paris where he lectured on ‘Women’s Entrepreneurship: Regulations, Assets and Opportunities’ called for further employment of women (part time or full time) in various enterprises and for supporting women entrepreneurs. He said: “We have the responsibility to encourage women to further invest after boosting their capacities and potentials, especially while promoting the setting up of small, medium or micro enterprises which can boost the national economy.” He also called for the setting up of special funds to support new entrepreneurship initiatives and to provide small loans targeting women, while stating that investment amounts needed for such projects are often meagre, but could produce outstanding outcomes, as he put it. (As Safir, An Nahar, Al Diyar, November 24, 2015) 
 

 

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Workshop in Jezzine on financing SMEs

24-11-2015

In cooperation with the Federation of the Municipalities of Jezzine, BLC Bank organized last Saturday a workshop on Kafalat and Central Bank of Lebanon financial services to small and medium enterprises. The SME Credit Officer at BLC, Banwa Eid, outlined the financial and development support services provided by his institution to help the population of remote rural areas in order that they to remain steadfast on their land. “There is a specialised institution that offers novel technical and administrative methods for farmers and industrialists without charge, with the help of Bank specialists,” he added while pointing out that assistance covers the agriculture, industrial and tourism sectors, and aims at promoting the reclamation of agriculture lands and at exporting. The value of loans, Eid noted that the value of loans that are earmarked to owners of big companies (without the need for personal guarantees), can start with USD 200 thousand, and rise to USD 400 thousand. On the other hand, small farmers could benefit from individual loans with a value reaching LBP 65 million without personal guarantees, noting that Kafalat is the loan guarantor. Such financial facilities will cover the setting up of greenhouses, various other agricultural farms, and beekeeping and poultry projects. The value of loans for fruit bearing trees projects can amount to nearly LBP 480 million, with 50% guarantee of the loan’s value for a 10 year period. (Al Mustaqbal, November 22, 2015)
 

 

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In the Great Capture, World Bank points out to governance failure in Lebanon

20-11-2015

The World Bank warned in its latest report on Lebanon ‘The Great Capture’ of a systematic ‎failure in governance amid an environment of endemic corruption, in addition to a structural ‎decay creeping into the present regime and a political paralysis of the three branches of the ‎government which are either vacant or ineffective. The report pointed out to an increase in ‎bribery and nepotism practices in the public sector which failed to deliver the basic services or ‎resolve the most urgent needs. This has led to the breakdown in the political structure and ‎paralysis of government institutions and of the electoral system, the report went on to say, ‎warning that the present situation is unsustainable and that without serious reforms, it is likely ‎that the social and economic unrest would worsen. It is to be noted that the World Bank ‎highlighted in a previous report published last month that the Lebanese Government is ‎unproductive, anticipating a modest economic growth until the end of 2015. (see ‎http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/13367)‎
Commenting the WB report, the former minister Charbel Nahhas underscored that the current ‎economic regime in Lebanon is predicated on fuelling its sustainability through non conventional ‎ways, adding that the shortcomings of the present systems are now clear for everyone to see. ‎Nahhas maintained that the present financial system based on attracting foreign funds to cover ‎the deficit in the external balance of payments, constantly works to reproduce a workforce which ‎has no other prospects than immigration and thus regenerating more foreign financial flows.” (Al ‎Akhbar, November 19, 2015)‎
 

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