News updates

The Rene Moawwad Foundation (RMF) signed the day before yesterday a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the “Promoting rural tourism in the Baruk – Freydiss region” project within the framework of the “Building Alliance for Local Advancement, Development, and Investment” (BALADI) programme which is being implemented by RMF with funding from USAID.
Former Minister Nayla Moawwad noted in her inaugural speech that the project will provide 25 new job opportunities for young people and will open to local farmers the possibilities to sell their produce, adding that this will, lead to the invigoration of tourism in the region.  Moawwad also added that this type of intervention is in line with RMF’s objectives, and concluded with acknowledging the work of the Shouf Cedar Reserve in protecting the environment and in facilitating the launch of this project.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 2 October 2014
 

Mona Buwarshi, a Lebanese woman who is the President of the Board of the Jazaeiri transport companies, was rated 5th on the list of the 200 strongest women in Arab family companies in 2014, which was put together by Forbes Middle East magazine.  Buwarshi is amongst the first women who head transportation (local and international, maritime and land) companies.  She works from her headquarter in Beirut and manages branches in Turkey, Jordan, Iraq and Cyprus.  Buwarshi also heads the Abdel Salam Bou Azza Al Jazaeiri Charitable Foundation and is a member of the Boards of Trustees of Al Makassed Charitable Institution in Beirut and of the International College School in Beirut.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 1 October 2014

As Safir newspaper published a report on the disaster which hit the olive orchards in Aley and the Higher Metn where olive production is critical for the agriculture of the area notably in what is known as Wadi Sharon which includes most of the villages of the highlands in addition to the middle area of Aley and Higher Metn.
The president of the Sharon General Cooperative Agricultural Association, Ahmad Sayegh, noted that this year’s harvest is not expected to exceed 5% of normal average production.  He also added that even this minimal harvest will not qualify for marketing as the olives are expected to be too small as a result of the outbreak of diseases.  Sayegh also added that hardly 50 olive oil gallons will be produced compared to an annual average of 800 gallons.  Agricultural expert Diana Marruche Abi Saeed noted that climate change is largely responsible for this disaster and the outbreak of diseases resulting in poor production.  She recommended regulated use of pesticides one month prior to harvest and to use insect catchers rather than drugs, as well as the use of organic drugs rather than poisonous pesticides.

Source: Al-Safir 1 October 2014

The Minister of Tourism, Michel Pharaon, met yesterday with a delegation from the school of tourism and hotel management at the Lebanese University.  The delegation was presided by the Faculty Dean, Ms. Amal Abou Fayyad who presented the work of her Faculty in promoting rural tourism and the collaboration with European Universities sharing the same interest.  Abou Fayyad highlighted the diverse specialties offered by the Faculty as well as the different research projects carried out by the students such as for instances studies on Roman and Phoenician roads as well a study on the impact of tourism on natural resources. For his part, Minister Pharaon emphasized the importance of the current collaboration between the Ministry and the Faculty of Tourism, and presented the different projects implemented since he became Minister of Tourism.  Pharaon noted that 20% of global tourists are youth under 17 years of age and he thus highlighted the importance of targeting this category of the population through awareness raising and marketing for rural tourism including adventures and camping.
Source: Al-Diyar 1 October 2014

The MoAg organised last Monday a workshop in order to launch the FAO regional project entitled “Building capacities to reduce the food wastage in the Near East” which is implemented in collaboration with that UN body and includes a number of countries from the region notably Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Iran.
On that occasion, the MoAg media office issued a statement noting that the workshop comes at a time when the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is suffering from food wastage which is estimated at 250 kilograms per person and is costing the economies some USD 60 billion a year.  The statement added that such high levels of food wastage affect food availability and exacerbate water scarcity.  The statement also noted that governments participating in this project have made commitments to address this issue and have asked for the help of the FAO which subsequently prepared this project with technical assistance from the Technical Collaboration Programme (TCP).  The project seeks to build capacities in food management, transportation, storage and distribution, and will include the implementation of training and educational workshops spreading over 24 months that will focus on fundamental guidelines for prevention against food wastage.  The workshops also will seek to build the capacities of the industrial food sector as well as food distribution.

Source: Al-Safir, Al-Diyar 30 September 2014

The activities of the twinning programme within the QuaLeb Programme implemented by the Ministry of Economy and Trade (MoET) with EU funding were concluded yesterday during a closing event held at the Serail under the auspices of Minister Alain Hakim and with the participation of the EU Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst.
The director of the QuaLeb Programme within the Ministry, Ali Berro, noted in his speech during the event that the programme has been able to achieve most of its objectives and the activities implemented exceeded 92% of what was planned.  He confirmed that the quality unit within the MoET will continue to provide technical assistance throughout 2015. This initiative provides support to five departments within the public sector to enable them to introduce and implement a quality control system within their work.  The director of the implementing partner organization, the British Standards Institution (BSI), David Bell, presented the achievements of the programme namely the development of a National Measurement Standard through the enactment of nine decrees, setting up three monitoring and control councils, creating nine laboratories, training 130 directors and workers on ISO 17025 as well as launching a new website for the Trade Information Center which provides info to Lebanese producers on export rules.  Bell also added that the Quality Unit worked also on spreading awareness regarding quality and excellence which helped in turn in raising the standards of safety of products and services and in improving the competitiveness of exported products and creating new jobs for quality experts.
Minister Hakim added that the strategic aim of the project is to contribute to improving the legal and institutional framework of quality in Lebanon, in order to make national products safer for consumers and improve their competitiveness in international markets.  He added that the project has set up firm foundations for completing the quality infrastructure notably at the level of food safety.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar, Al-Safir 30 September 2014

The team of the “Using natural resources for the development of the local rural economy in Akkar” project has completed the set up of new oregano production units in Akkar following field visits to 16 villages in the area.  This effort was conducted within the framework of the Afkaar 3 programme implemented by the Safadi foundation in collaboration with AIDA, a Spanish NGO, with financial support from the European Union, and managed by OMSAR. The project director, Dr. Ghassan Sroor, clarified that this stage of the project was conducted by engineers and included the set up of irrigation systems, distribution of seedling, and provision of instructions on planting and caring for the oregano seedling in addition to providing the needed care and technical advice to beneficiaries.  Sroor added that women participating in this project have shown commitment to the project activities especially after they started to benefit economically through marketing some of their products to restaurant as well as drying the oregano and selling it later.
To be reminded that the “Using natural resources for the development of the local rural economy in Akkar” project will continue over a two year period.  The project will contribute to creating work opportunities for more than 80 women in different villages in Akkar.  It also seeks to strengthen the economic value of natural resources as well as facilitate the participation of women in agricultural activities which will help them find a new source of income. Also to be recalled that WEEPortal covered last week one related news entitled:  "Safadi Foundation’s thyme growing project in Akkar to empower women".

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 29 September 2014
 

Al Mustaqbal newspaper published an article about the 28-year old Miriam Suleiman, who has just been appointed acting head of the seaport authority in Saida following the retirement of her predecessor, engineer Sami Hussein, last February.  Suleiman is the first woman to be nominated for such post. According to the newspaper, Sulieman’s remit is not only to administer the Saida seaport, but also Tyre and Jiyyeh seaports which are administratively within the remit of Saida Seaport Authority.  To be noted that Suleiman was first appointed as a civil servant in 2010 within the Saida seaport authority via the civil service board.  She is now one of the two remaining staff in this administrative structure after the retirement of all its former members.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 29 September 2014

As Safir newspaper published a report about the losses incurred to the Beqaa economy and the Lebanese economy as a result of the recent closure of the Daher el Baydar international road two days ago by the families of the Lebanese soldiers kidnapped by terrorists.  As a result, the daily activity and road communication between the Beqaa and Beirut has been paralyzed.  According to one of the traders and workers in the agricultural sector, farmers and traders are enduring daily losses amounting to some one million dollars.  The same source noted that the halt in road travel has caused a complete paralysis in the agricultural sector and more than one thousand tons of agricultural products could not reach their markets in Beirut and other locations.  He added that ships sailed out of the Tripoli port last Wednesday without filling its containers as agricultural products could not reach the port.
The report noted that the implications of the road closure is being felt not only at the level of agricultural losses but have also impacted the entire economy of the Beqaa and caused a general halt in the transit movement between Lebanon and Arab countries as it affected land travel in both ways.  Other casualties included internal industrial exports between the Beqaa, Beirut and other regions as well as general sales and purchasing activities of commercial institutions, in addition to the drop in fuel stocking.

Source: Al-Safir 26 September 2014

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced that it has provided a loan of USD 2 million to the Lebanese Association for Development (Al Majmoua), with the aim of encouraging businesses and strengthening economic development in Lebanon.  The IFC explained in a statement issued yesterday that this loan will help Al Majmoua to develop its credit portfolio to include low income categories as well as holders of micro businesses.  The statement noted that 50% of Al Majmoua clients reside in frontline areas where financial services are inaccessible, and that women constitute 54% of its clients’ base. The IFC director for the MENA region, James Gohary, noted that this investment will encourage other investments by local banks and in support of micro businesses, in order to bridge the existing financing gap.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Mustaqbal 26 September 2014