News updates

Snail farming is a 44-year old global industry unlike in Lebanon where it emerged only two years ago but yet proved to be a promising sector. According to As Safir daily, world studies have shown that the available size of production does not exceed 20% of the global demand. As Safir pointed out that Lebanon is considered a favorable environment for snail farming because of suitable weather and the existence of vast land areas in the South, Beqaa and Akkar. For this purpose, the ‘Lebanese Treasures Land’ (Kounouz al Arad al Lubnaniya) was founded with the support of farmers associations and with funding from the Lebanese Trust for Consultancy and Investment. The newly introduced business recently signed an agreement with the International Snail Farming Institute in Italy according to which the Italian party commits to purchase the entire Lebanese production as long as it meets international standards. In this respect, LTL General Manager Nawfal Daou informed As Safir that the first shipment of high quality Lebanese snail estimated at 9 tons were exported to Italy few weeks ago, adding that this places Lebanon at an international standing among snail exporting countries. Daou stressed that the expansion of this alternative farming is feasible, since in 2014 current global production stood at 480 thousand tons. He said there are currently some 20 snail breeders in Lebanon and production is expected to reach 300 tons in 2016. Snails, he underscored, are the only do not easily get sick and have an immune defense system against viruses. In a similar note, Tony Saadeh, General Manager of the Lebanese Trust for Consultancy and Investment told As Safir that each 10 meters of land produces some USD 60 to 65 thousand worth of snails while the cost of equipping and supplying the farm is USD 50 thousand every year, adding that the price of one ton of snails is currently estimated at USD 5,500 which makes the sector indeed a very profitable industry. (As Safir, 22 May 2015)

The Modern University of Business and Sciences MUBS organized yesterday May 22, its annual job fair for the year 2015 under the patronage of Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi and the participation of the National Employment Agency in addition to numerous companies. The event was held at the University’s Beirut campus in Hamra between 10 am to 5 pm. Opening the fair, Azzi said that unemployment in Lebanon has climbed to 25%, 35% of which is among the youth, particularly fresh university and college graduates. In explaining the causes, Azzi pointed out to the lack of skills among graduates, who according to the data of his ministry, do not manage to retain their jobs. However, he die acknowledge that a great number of men and women business owners in Lebanon do not offer the adequate wage or salary and prefer to resort to cheap foreign labor. Surprisingly, he concluded by saying that young people in Lebanon should first work to change the political establishment in their quest for decent work. (Al Diyar, 22 May 2015)

Industry Minister Dr. Hussein Haj Hassan chaired yesterday a meeting to resume debate on the projected sea route for exports destined to Jordan and Gulf countries as an alternative for Nassib Syrian-Jordanian Crossing. Present at the meeting were former minister Fadi Aboud, Director General of Land and Maritime Transport Hafiz Qaysi, Chairperson and General Director of the Port of Beirut Hassan Koraytem and CEO, General Director of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon IDAL, Nabil Itani. Haj Hassan started by clarifying that the Council of Ministers has earlier instructed ministries involved to prepare a study of the cost of alternative shipping of agricultural and industrial production by sea, in cooperation with IDAL. Itani gave a preview of the study, noting that agriculture suffered most, followed by food industries and other industrial sectors. He also added that figures showed that agricultural exports in the past six months stood at nearly 250 thousand tons, food industries reached 52 thousand tons against 62 thousand tons for the remaining industries. The number of trucks loaded with agricultural produce totaled 9165 vehicles against 2100 food containers and 2487 trucks carrying other products. For his part, Qaysi pointed that the findings of IDAL and the Ministry of Public Works were similar as to the number of trucks. He added that negotiations with Egypt are in progress in order to reduce bank guarantees requested by the Egyptian side. To note, Egypt has demanded a guarantee of USD 150 thousand for each Ro-Ro shipment, which is close to USD 500 for each truck, a guarantee that will increase the total cost of transportation to around USD 1200 excluding the transport cost of the ferry and the corresponding cost of transport inside the Egyptian territory. In case of agreement, the cost of guarantee per truck will drop to only USD 50. (As Safir, Al Diyar, 21 May 2015)

‘Souk El Tayeb’, the ‘No Garlic No Onion’ and Chef Wael Ladkani in cooperation with Solidere are organizing the first street food market in the heart of the Lebanese capita, which will open today, Thursday, May 21 and will last for two days, from 5 pm to 11 pm. Speaking to Al Diyar newspaper, Antony Rahil, owner and manager of ‘No Garlic No Onions’ website disclosed that the aim of this initiative is to bring the Lebanese people together under one roof to enjoy a tasty bite of the authentic Lebanese cuisine offered at reasonable price. Rahil noted that participation in the event is based on several criteria, mainly the high quality of ingredients used in cooking and affordable prices. Furthermore, he added that similar activities will be organized subsequently in various parts of Lebanon. (Al Diyar, 21 May 2015)

The American University of Science and Technology organized yesterday its 14th job opportunities fair on its campus under the auspices of the Minister of State for Administrative Affairs, Nabil De Freij and with the attendance of AUST’s President, Hyam Sakr. Present also at the opening were members of faculty and administrative staff, deans of various AUST schools and a crowd of students of all majors. Some 120 companies representing the various sectors of tourism, industry, banking, health, ICT, printing, design, insurance, media, advertising and marketing, partook in this event. AUST Vice President Riad Sakr emphasized the need for universities to set up special centers or offices to monitor employment and job prospects. He urged these institutions to exercise their dual role in education and intellectual and cultural exposure as well as in preparation and orientation of students to various specialties that will meet the needs of the labor market. De Freij for his part considered that civic organizations and vocational and educational institutions contribute greatly to helping students carve their professional path. However, the main problem, he noted, remains in linking the specialty subject with the potential job openings. He blamed the lack of vocational guidance on both parents of students and on the private and public educational sector, while stigmatizing the absence of a comprehensive national strategy to boost the economy and the labor market. (An Nahar, 20 May 2015)

The Regie Company inaugurated yesterday a new tobacco factory in the eastern Beirut suburb of Hadath, under the patronage of Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil. Al Diyar newspaper reported that the new factory which was built at a cost of nearly USD 17 million have capacity to boost production from 12,000 to 35,000 boxes of cigarettes per month. The factory also has a license to manufacture leading international tobacco brands starting next June, as announced by director general of Regie, Nassif Siklawi. Minster Khalil praised in his opening words the importance of this undertaking which he said will restore faith in the national economy. Likewise, Siklawi disclosed that the new establishment extends over 12 thousand square meters and will employ some 170 men and women workers. (Al Diyar, 20 May 2015)

The Minister of Economy and Trade Alan Hakim announced yesterday the launch of Lebanon’s participation in Expo Milano 2015. He was speaking during a press conference at the Ministry in the presence of Italy’s Ambassador Giuseppe Morabito, the General Director of Economy and Trade at the Ministry Alya Abbas and the General Consul of Lebanon to Milan Walid Haidar, in addition to media representatives. A documentary film was shown to introduce the Lebanese pavilion and the various art performances that will accompany the event from May to October 2015. Morabito explained that the exhibition will focus on food safety and global hunger, commending the significance of Lebanon’s contribution. For his part, Hakim considered the fair as a doorway to showcase the Lebanese cuisine and food industry at an international prestigious platform. He noted that the expo which started on May 1 will host some 131 countries, and is expected to attract more than 20 million visitors. (Al Diyar, 20 May 2015)

The transport crisis to the Gulf provoked by the recent closure of the Syrian Jordanian borders is practically on its way to be resolved. According to As Safir newspaper issue of today, the first transport ship embarked two days ago from the Port of Tripoli carrying 60 refrigerated and normal trucks to Saudi Arabia, on board were 25 Arab registered and 35 Lebanese owned trucks. After two months of crisis and two weeks since the return of some of the trucks stranded in Saudi Arabic, the Mid Bridge container vessel left Tripoli to KSA as a first trial for the new proposed shipping line. The ship which has carried the trucks has entered the northern port few days ago but was delayed by the protesting Lebanese truckers. However, after intensive negotiations with the truck drivers the first pilot RO-RO shipping mission was able to sail. This pilot operation came as a result of the collaboration between the General Directorate of Maritime Transport, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli, the North and Lebanon’s Refrigerated Truckers Syndicate and the Tripoli Port Administration. Focus has now moved towards finalizing all administrative procedures to transform the maritime line into a permanent one. (Safir, 19 May 2015)

Beirut Arab University organized a seminar entitled ‘Success Story’ which hosted the CEO of ‘Al Iktissad Wal Aamal’ Group, Raouf Abu Zaki in the presence of BAU President Dr. Amru Al Adwi, Deans of various schools at the University, a number of ministers and business figures as well as a crowd of BAU graduate students. In his address to students, Abu Zaki pointed out that the key factor for actual success in education and therefore in career life is the clarity of vision, adding that the career process starts with identifying the right area of specialization, noting that education does not stop with one’s last degree. Stressing that the diploma alone does not make success, Abu Zaki pointed out to various points of strength that helped him reach success, mainly positive thinking and choosing the right vocational occupation. Highlighting the present educational curricula, Al ‘Iktissad Wal Aamal’ chief described the curricula as inflexible, closed, slow and therefore inadequate in meeting the evolving needs of the labor market. Schools, he maintained, do not offer the proper assistance and tools that will help their students to discover their talents and develop their orientations. Likewise, he said, that current higher education programs are incapable to accompany new developments. However, he concluded, that the responsibility for the present educational situation cannot fall only on educational institutions adding that it is very much the outcome of the overall political, security, economic, social and cultural context that is prevailing in Arab societies. (Al Mustaqbal, 19 May 2015)

The Ministry of Labor issued a statement yesterday calling on all production sectors to respect the Labor Law and its implementation mechanisms which regulate the work of foreigners in Lebanon, while blaming as expected the Syrian displaced persons for the unemployment problem which in fact is endemic. The statement which referred to statistics of unknown sources which estimated the current unemployment rate at 25%, noted that the Ministry has given institutions a waiver of several months to legalize the situation of their foreign employees based on a request by Minister Sejaa Azzi. Azzi has held for this purpose a number of meetings with representatives of several production sectors with the presence of experts to facilitate the issuance of work permits for foreigners and schedule their due payments. Now that this grace period has elapsed, and several institutions have failed to legalize the situation of their foreign employees, the Ministry is thus inviting these parties once more to give priority to Lebanese for employment and limit the employment of foreigners to sectors that require foreign expertise and especially when no Lebanese are found for the job.  The statement of the Minister also gave a special regards to Arab “brotherhood” and is asking employers to give special attention to Syrians, Palestinians, Egyptians and Iraqi and ensure that they are employed according to the law as well as refrain from sacking Lebanese employees for the purpose of replacing them with foreigners. The memo calls on employers to settle the situation of their foreign employees in a period not exceeding two weeks and to give due consideration to the rights and entitlements of these workers notably working hours, social and health security as well as annual leaves. Employers should apply directly for work permits and not go through mediators except ones that are endorsed by the employer in order for the process to be transparent and to prevent problems arising because of mediators. The statement warned that any failure in following these instructions will make the employer liable to investigation and penalty; it also disclosed that it has also set up an emergency unit to oversee the proper and swift implementation of these guidelines and to speed up the necessary investigation process. (Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, 19 May 2015)