News updates

As part of the annual Tasting Week, the Minister of Tourism Michel Pharaon inaugurated yesterday the Beirut Cooking Festival and the Salon Du Chocolat at Biel Complex. Present at the opening were the president of the Chambers of Trade, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon, Mohamad Chukair, the president of the Syndicate of Restaurants, Cafes, Nightclubs and Pastries, Toni Rami and a crowd of diplomatic, economic and touristic figures. The 3-day festival offers diverse activities and workshops demonstrating the latest cooking techniques with a group of famous chefs. In his brief word, Pharaon  stressed that the “economic societies, NGOs and associations concerned are presenting the best through this expo which reflects cutting-edge accomplishments and innovations at all times,” as he said, adding “the exhibition has become an annual occasion we all await.” (As Safir, Al Diyar, An Nahar, November 13, 2015)

 

The Social Training Center, in collaboration with the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation, organized last week  a 4-day training session for empowering women entrepreneurs entitled ‘how can you start your own business?” The workshop which was held at the Center for Development Services-Baalbek, Bekaa, was attended by some 20 women from the city and neighboring villages. The main purpose of the training course was to help those women develop their skills, their social communication  and marketing talents. One participant, Iman Issa, told An Nahar that 2 weeks after completion of the workshop, she was able to sell her homemade products through the mouneh initiative and to better invest in her enterprise. For her part, the Development Center director, Huda Saeed, explained that the course is based on the rationale of ‘building the capacities of women in forming a team of trainees’ program that enables the smooth transfer of knowledge and expertise to the local communities. Elaborating on the issue, the head of the Social Affairs Department in Baalbek, Walid Assaf, said, “There are three groups of women who received the training: firstly, those who aspire to empower themselves in the management of their households ventures; secondly, women who like to enhance their businesses properly and methodically, and finally, the women planning to set up their own enterprises.” )An Nahar, November 13, 2015 2015(

 

In a feature highlighting the agricultural and industrial exports conditions in Lebanon, Al Diyar daily said the sector managed to overcome the difficulties challenging its progress, notably the local political instability and the closure of the borders as a result of the ongoing Syria war, in addition to the absence of government support. The newspaper noted that Lebanese exporters remained resolute and succeeded to a big extent, notwithstanding the relatively high cost they have paid and are still paying to achieve this. 

To shed more light on the subject, Al Diyar spoke to the chief of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, Fadi Gemayel, who boasted the steadfastness of the local industry and the flexibility of the Lebanese entrepreneurs in adapting and changing the course of exports. The World Bank report,he said, pointed out that "Lebanon was the only country in the region to prevail over the standard criterion representing developing states, as per the annual exports per company value and the diversity of exported products."

Gemayel stressed the need for a swift intervention by the government to salvage the situation, mainly concerning the industrial exports, which he pointed have declined by 6.9% in 2014. Meanwhile, he added, the industrialists grouping is doing its best to open new markets, particularly to Russia, Canada and Africa, besides planning programs that boost the export capacity of small and medium enterprises. (Al Diyar, October 26, 2015)

 

As Safir daily unveiled the danger threatening the existence of old stone grape presses in the towns and villages of Hasbaya. It warned that the forsaken traditional crushers could become a lost heritage, particularly after the fall in vine production and the farmers shift to modern press machineries. The newspaper pointed out that the molasses making season offered villagers an opportunity to work together in the vineyards, where they collected, packed and loaded the crops in the press after preparing the firewood. Then, they crushed and cooked the crops into soft molasses, cooled it down and stacked it in earthenware jars that keep them fresh through the year. As Safir said Hasbaya farmers brag about the healthy and nutritious benefits of molasses. Fares, owner of one of the stone presses, told the newspaper that he gave up the tradition after most of his contemporaries turned into the easy to use and cost effective new-fangled equipment. “There used to be 18 presses dispersed across the villages of Hasbaya and Arkoub, but now they all are at risk of extinction,” Fares grieved. Owners of stone  presses finally appealed to the authorities concerned to save the dwindling heritage of that part of the country through the restoration and upgrading of its timeworn components. (As Safir, November 9, 2015)

 

 

In a feature published last week, Al Akhbar daily reported a slide in doing business in Lebanon for 2016, placing the country at rank 123 among 189 states covered by the survey, with a recorded fall from 121 in 2015. According to the review, Lebanon ranked 114 globally for ‘starting a new business’, noting that establishing an enterprise requires 6 measures over a period of 15 days. Also, Lebanon came 109 globally under the ‘ease of access to credit’ profile, whereas, the report saw more strain in the process of the transfer of real estate, pointing to a prolonged property registration measures. 

On the other hand, Al Akhbar quoting the latest statements by the World Bank, pointed out that the remittances of Lebanese expatriates continue to be a receptive reservoir, anticipating an increase to US$ 7.489 billion in 2015 up from US$ 7.446 billion in 2014. “Despite the political and security instability in the region and the geo-political changes worldwide, as well as the paralysis of institutions in Lebanon, the Lebanese expats have proved to remain tough. This is reflected in a business stamina and an exceptional capacity seen in an upsurge in remittances against last year, where Lebanon ranked 15 globally and 13 regionally,” the newspaper said. (Al Akhbar, November 4, 2015)

 

In a special feature on apple growing, As Safir daily reported a 30% decline in this agriculture, chiefly caused by climate change and the export crisis. One farmer, Yousef Bjifi from Mashgara, West Bekaa, told the newspaper that the size of production in his town has dropped to 20 thousand boxes against an anticipated 60 thousand boxes, attributing this to damaged buds due to extreme weather conditions. He also noted that the domestic market cannot accommodate the large quantities of locally produced apples with the disruption of the export activity. Meanwhile, As Safir went on to say, that the apple seasons in Batroun and Tanourine in the north barely made 50-70% of the annual production and hence did not reach the expected proceeds farmers rely on for living. On this subject, the President of the Farmers’ Association of Tanourine, Chlita Tarabey, appealed to the authorities to “help farmers rescue what they can to remain steadfast in their lands.” On the other hand, Ehden farmers said the season was acceptable but falls behind last year’s production. (As Safir, October 29, November 3 and 6, 2015)

 

The Daily Star published a feature on a traditional mouneh house launched in 2014 by a woman activist/political analyst, Carole Maalouf and run by 8 women from Lebanon, Syria and Iraq in the Upper Matn village of Falough.  The women told the newspaper how have managed to become financially independent by preparing all sorts of homemade pickles, jams, dried food, kishk, dairy products as well as honey and juices. For his part, the project manager, Jef Fahd, explained the routine of work which basically depends on sales during charity occasions or at the American Embassy in Beirut. Some people even buy directly from the house in Falougha. He disclosed that Beit el Mouneh which received US funding from its first year through last September is currently seeking funds from different sources, hoping to become a self-sustaining business in the coming years. (Daily Star, October 26, 2015

 

The Minister of Tourism, Michel Pharaon, inaugurated yesterday the tasting festival of Lebanese foods which will take place between 9 and 15 November 2015.  Pharaon spoke during a press conference organized for that occasion with the participation of the General Director of Hospitality Services and the organizer of the event, Joumana Damous Salameh, and the member of the board of the syndicate of restaurants, cafes and patisseries, Maya Bekhazi.  The event was attendant by many interested in that sector.  Salameh noted that the purpose of the event is to reignite tourism and the economy through familiarizing with Lebanese cuisisine and restaurants.  She added that the event will allow participating restaurants to engage with consumers.  Minister Pharaon added that the restaurant sector is very dynamic and he reiterated that tourism was unfettered despite current crisis. (Al Safir, 6 November 2015)

 

Al Akhbar daily published a feature about a passionate woman entrepreneur from Tripoli who emigrated to Canada and returned to realize  her dream of a ‘wholesome bread’ corner in her hometown. Three years ago, Soumaya Merhi opened a small bakery in the northern capital and called it the ‘bread basket’ which showcases a variety of nutritious, additive free, organic and high quality breads and sweets. The products, the newspaper noted, are available in 20 points of sale across the Lebanese territory and are exported abroad. Merhi began marketing her delicacies solo, where she drove from one region to another, visiting hypermarkets, restaurants and bakeries to display her different creations. Later on, she launched her website http://www.breadbasketsquare.com/, to market online, and recently expanded her initiative reaching Erbil and Dubai. To keep up with the increasing demand on her products, Soumaya resorted to ‘Kafalat’ company for SME loans to get a modern machine that allows her to make in two days what she manually makes in a week’s time. According to Al Akhbar, Merhi presently sells US$26 thousand worth of products per month and is expecting her annual sales for the year 2016 to reach between US$ 500 thousand to 750 thousand. (Al Akhbar, November 4, 2015)