News updates

The Chief of the Tourist Institutions and Recreation Parks in the South, Ali Tabaja, urged concerned officials and the Ministry of Tourism in particular to step up efforts to place South Lebanon on the tourism promotion map. In order to support the sector, he suggested a number of measures, namely, the reduction of taxes on enterprises, special electricity rates similarly to the industrial sector, easier regulations for the establishment of new enterprises operating in the south and compensation for losses incurred during 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon. Tabaja warned that the owners of rest houses and parks in that area are suffering as a result of government’s neglect, while pointing out to the following pressing problems: the constant absence of electricity in the area, bad road conditions as well as other legal problems. (As Safir, 11 July 2015)

The southern plains of Marjeyoon, namely Ebl al Saqi, Khiam and Wazzani, swarms with displaced Syrian farmers from the Beqaa hired to help with the potato harvest season that has already started. According to Al Mustaqbal newspaper Syrian refugees from that area are forced to work with low wages to support their families and shield them from want and need. Um Ibrahim, from Raqqa, is now working the potato fields with her four daughters and her eldest son, in return for a modest daily wage of LBP 12 thousand each. She informed the newspaper that she has yet to receive aid from international relief organization. For her part, Hadeer Ahmad, a former music teacher in Syria, who today is working in the potato fields like countless others, does not mind this had labor, but laments the tragic situation in her country more than anything else. On the other hand, Michel Bash, a Lebanese farmer who contracts Syrians of all ages to work in Marjeyoon and Ebl al Saqi, stresses the vital importance of the Syrian workforce as a result of the endemic shortage of domestic labor in the area. Complaining about the challenges he is facing along with his fellow farmers, Bash referred to the recent export difficulties resulting from the closure of the land borders at Nassib Crossing. Among other threats to the development of the agriculture sector, is the illegal smuggling of potato from abroad as well as the recently introduced labor sponsorship system. (Al Mustaqbal, 10 July 2015)

With the soaring prices in restaurants and cafes, often blamed on the rising cost of rent in Beirut as well as on new stringent conditions put by some restaurants on consumers such as the compulsory ‘shisha’ with every meal, a new wave of young people and shop owners are reportedly seeking entertainment places in the outskirts and migrating farther away from the boundaries of the administrative Beirut district. In this respect, Byblos came first in attracting nightlife goers and for that reason has now been classified as the second Downtown Beirut, the original having become increasingly deserted as a result of the overall poor economic and security conditions in the country as well as the high level of rent. Hussein Shareef, a random young consumer, told Al Diyar newspaper that he prefers to go to places outside the capital where he can access affordable entertainment. Roy Abi Khalil for his part noted that he and his friends are old customers of Hamra and Verdun cafes and pubs; however, due to the rocketing prices of dining and the like, they have opted now for other cheaper places and found Byblos to be an appropriate one. In view of that, it is now urgent that the Ministry of Economy intervenes in order to curb the increase in rental prices. (Al Diyar, 30 June 2015)

In a pioneering move in Lebanon, Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi sponsored the launching of the new electronic job portal, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the National Employment Office (NEO) and Microsoft Company, which will enable employers and job seekers to connect. During the press conference held for the ceremony, Azzi maintained that the new job portal initiative is the third project to be launched this year by the Ministry of Labor (MoL) in collaboration with NEO. It is to be noted that the first in that series was a project called the first job opportunity for youth, which is expected to create some 4800 jobs for the young generation of both sexes during the next four years. Azzi pointed out that the number of Lebanese living under the poverty line, with less than USD 4 per day, number some 1 million and 170 thousand persons, equivalent to one third of the total population of the country. He underscored that “there are many people out there who want to work in professions which we believe suffer from a shortage in workforce.” Azzi also announced that NEO will be expanding its outreach so as to cover all poor localities, and in order to better target unemployed persons. For his part, NEO general director Jean Abi Fadel said the new portal project will be open to collaboration with all and in accordance with the prevailing laws. He urged the private sector to further cooperate with his institution by advertising job offers that meet their business requirements. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, 7 July 2015)

Snail farming seems to have kicked off in the Beqaa area, having emerged two years ago on a narrow scale, particularly in Ammiq and Deir al A7hmar. (For more info, please access the following link: Snail farming in Lebanon, an emerging alternative and a very profitable industry). A new farmland of 8-10 acres was set up in Taybeh, is run by a young woman who is supported by her family members, and supervised by a well-experienced snail breeder from Deir Al A7hmar. Snails feed on a special kind of weed similar to chard or dandelion which seeds are imported from Italy. The height of the plant should not exceed 35cm to prevent snails from climbing them and dying. Snails mate with each other and record a 100% rate of hatching. To be noted, the weather in Beqaa is ideal for snail breeding, since breeding can take place within a temperature ranging between 50 ° C in summer and –15 ° C in winter. (Al Diyar, 5 July 2015)

Member of the Syndicate for Exporters of Citrus Fruits and Banana, Rida Fadel, the Cooperative Association of Fruit Trees and Seedlings in Central and West Bekaa, the President of the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon and Head of Beirut and Mount Lebanon Chamber, Mohamad Shucair, as well as the President of Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli and the North, Tawfik Dabbussi, all praised the Cabinet decision of last week to support and subsidize sea exports. However, President of the Lebanese-Omani Business Council Shadi Masaad warned that the 7-month timetable set for the said decision is not sufficient to resolve a crisis that is likely to last longer. Meanwhile, Beqaa farmers went back to work and resumed those agricultural activities which were delayed by the recent closure of the land borders with Syria. In this respect, As Safir newspaper reported that the decision on maritime transport is expected to halt any further decline in prices of domestic fruit production. Prospects for the peach season seem promising since harvest was not completed. The newspaper noted that with the resumption of export activity, prices of fruits are expected to stabilize at normal levels. (Al Diyar, As Safir, 4 and 5 July 2015)

Finally, and after 92 days of stagnation in the traffic of Lebanese exports due to the closure of all land borders, the Council of Ministers approved last Thursday to support the transport by sea of agricultural and industrial exports bound for the Arab countries by subsidizing the additional shipping expenses through a USD 21 million allocation for a period of seven months which will be disbursed on a monthly basis and according to a timetable laid down by IDAL in coordination with the Agriculture Minister. In this respect, Ibrahim Tarshishi, President of the Association of Beqaa Farmers expressed his relief on the positive results pointing that the plan should have been approved much earlier. Tarshishi disclosed that an emergency meeting will be held next week in the presence of Akram Shehayeb, Minster of Agriculture, and various parties concerned, including representatives of exporters, the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon and shipping agencies in order start the implementation of the proposed plan. (Al Diyar, As Safir, An Nahar, 3 July 2015)

On the occasion of the World Day of Agricultural Cooperatives, the head of the agricultural section at the General National Union of Lebanese Cooperative Associations, George Constantine Inati lamented the neglect by the government of such organizations and stressed that supporting and developing the cooperative movement is the best approach for reviving the agricultural sector. Addressing the demands of Lebanese farmers, Inati pointed out that agricultural cooperatives stand ready to play their role as mediators between farmers and consumers. Besides, Inati added, they are well equipped to collect and package agricultural produces in preparation for marketing domestically and abroad. He appealed to farmers, co-op organizations and agricultural syndicates to “join forces in order to put an end to the uncontrolled sales of farmers land”, adding that currently one of the key priorities of Lebanese farmers is to benefit from the Social Security Fund. He urged authorities concerned to protect national production warning against including any domestic produce threatened with dumping by imported goods, in any future trade agreement. Finally, he called for the establishment of state-run agricultural cooperative markets to be operated and managed by the cooperatives themselves under the motto ‘from the farmer directly to the consumer’. (As Safir, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, 5 July 2015)