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In a strong message to the government, the Minister of Health Wael Abu Faoor said it should be tough and resilient in fighting corruption in all state institutions whatever it takes. Abu Faoor was speaking during a ceremony where he distributed certificates to participants who completed training courses at the Lebanese Food Safety Training Center affiliated with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry. The event was held at the premises of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Chamber in the presence of over 100 food-related establishments that participated in the first and second phases of the training program. The Health Minister expressed relief in the progress of the food safety campaign saying that “food safety and reform do not contradict with the performance of productive sectors and institutions.” For his part, the Chamber’s President, Mohamed Shukair, pointed out that the present scheme has demonstrated the ability of boosting the skills of Lebanon’s workforce while preserving public health. (Al Diyar, September 30, 2015)

The President of Hotel Owners in Lebanon Pierre Achkar pointed out that the hotel occupancy rate during Eid Al Adha did not exceed 40-50% across Lebanon, stressing that the tourism sector is living its worst days. Achkar was speaking to As Safir daily which after touring a number of establishments concluded that the tourism crisis has escalated during the past few weeks, especially with the accumulation of garbage in the streets, increasing power cuts and water rationing in many areas. The newspaper highlighted that numerous institutions are seriously thinking of closing their businesses.

In its follow up of the subject, As Safir also quoted commercial business owners in the southern port city of Saida as saying that this year’s Adha holidays activities were limited to window shopping or small purchases, stressing that only 20-25% of inhabitants made real purchases or holiday shopping. The newspaper went on to explain the reasons behind the unfavorable  situation in the city’s markets, particularly, the presence of alternative outlet stores, malls and hypermarkets in Saida’s close and far neighborhoods and suburbs. Similarly, As Safir indicated that the tourism bustle in Tyre during the Eid was not better, given the back-to-school season and the departure of Lebanese expatriates, as well as the start of the traditional mooneh season which also requires considerable spending. Likewise, in the Nabatiyeh area, merchants, grieved the losses inflicted on them by street vendors who occupy the sidewalks benefiting from their exemption of rents or taxes. This situation prompted the Nabatiyeh municipality, in collaboration with the Nabatiyeh Traders Association, to ban street vendors and kiosks from the main commercial district on the Adha Eve. On the other hand, and in Central Beqaa, east of Lebanon, commercial and hospitality activities varied from one region to another, according to As Safir, which noted a relative buzz in the popular markets that attracted a great number of Lebanese citizens and Syrian nationals. Moreover, restaurants, cafes and hotels in Zahleh, Shtawra and Anjar witnessed an upsurge in customers. (As Safir, September 24 and 28, 2015

 

The Lebanese pavillion, celebrated on September 24, during Milano Expo, the Lebanese wine day. On that occasion, the President of the Union Vinicole Du Liban, Chateau Ksara, CEO, Zafer Shawi indicated that the wine industry in Lebanon has witnessed a remarkable growth in the past 20 years. “The number of wine produces has increased from 8 since the end of the Civil War to 40 at present,” Shawi said, pointing that local wine has become an ambassador for Lebanon in over 30 foreign countries. “In the past five years, the Lebanese wine succeeded in making headways in Britain, France and the US,” Shawi noted. (Al Diyar September,27, 2015)