News updates

As Safir newspaper published a report about the once popular market in Arab Salim and which was set up by one of the local residents, Hasan Nadar, with a view to provide easy marketing opportunities to the residents as well as a space for consumers to buy goods.  To be noted that popular markets are usually an important outlet for families with limited income as the available goods are of low prices compared to regular markets especially since rent, taxes, and the cost of utilities are either waived or subsidized.
The market started with 40 stalls spread over 3 dunnums but has now shrunk to only 20 stalls after several interruptions, and with a limited choice of goods.  Consumers are now mainly relying on the Monday market in Nabatyeh to buy their products hence decreasing local demand significantly. However, the market remains an important need for Syrian displaced, according to Aamneh Nadar, a member of the women agro-industry cooperative, who exhibits her food products at the market including jams, essences and traditional food, as she lamented the difficult economic situation that prevails in the region.
Source: Al-Safir 27 January 2014

Bashar al Kouatly, the director of Ibdaa3 association, presented the poverty reduction strategy of his group, that was implemented in Lebanon during the last 18 months with AGFUND support, and that is during the launch of a new micro credit bank for combating poverty in the Philippines.  Al Kouatly noted that Ibdaa3 currently has 5 branches across Lebanon and has reached to date 3500 beneficiaries.  He added that Ibdaa3 is targeting to reach 10,000 beneficiaries during a one year period.  He also highlighted that most of Ibdaa3’s beneficiaries are women and young people.
Source: Al-Nahar 24 January 2014

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was announced yesterday between several UN agencies working in Lebanon namely UNDP, UNHCR, UNRWA, WFP and UNICEF and the Ministry of Industry whereby these agencies active in emergency assistance commit to buying products from local Lebanese factories.  The MoU was exchanged during a meeting held at the offices of the Minister of Industry, Frej Sabounjian, with the participation of UN Resident Representative, Robert Watkins, and UNIDO Regional Representative, Cristiano Pasini.
Sabounjian considered this to be a major achievement that will have major returns as it will allow local factories to sell their products while providing incentives to local factories to increase their production and to meet the new demand as well to develop new lines of products.  The MoU will also allow Lebanese merchants to import products which are not currently available in Lebanon.
Sabounjian also added that his Ministry will organise a workshop on February 13th to familiarize stakeholders with the calls for offers and procurement procedures.  The Ministry will invite to this planned workshop participants such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Industrialists Association, Merchants Associations, and various syndicates.  In addition, the Ministry will be opening a special office to provide necessary information on the calls for offers and how to participate in placing bids.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Nahar 23 January 2014

Al Mustakbal newspaper published a report on poultry production farms in Hasbaya, Arkoub and Marjeyoun which have significantly increased in number during the past few years since residents discovered in poultry a lucrative alternative to the usage their land that compensate for the losses they suffered in their crop yields.  As a result, more then 35 poultry farms have already been established with a total capacity of 400,000 chickens.
The majority of poultry farmers in the area noted that despite the absence of subsidies, various risks related to poultry production namely diseases, 75% rise in the cost of chicks, 15% in the cost of bird feed, absence of external markets and no waiver on taxes, the retail price of chicken on the market remain relatively good because of the increase in demand resulting from the growing influx of Syrian displaced which positively affected demand and consumption.  According to Hafiz al Khalil from Rashaya al Fakhar who owns one poultry farm of 5000 chickens, poultry production is a high risk business because any disease affliction can kill up to thousands of birds at once.  He also pointed out to the absence of a benchmark pricing by the state, whereas market prices are instead dictated by two big private companies. El Khalil demanded that the Ministry of Agriculture gives more attention to poultry production in this region of Lebanon through providing veterinary medicines, medical check-ups and extension services and so as to relieve poultry farmers from some of the costs of their production.  For his part, Labib al Hamra, an owner of a poultry farm in Hasbaya and Rashaya al Fakhar with a capacity of more than 75,000 chickens noted that the increase in poultry farms came in response to rising demand, availability of bank loans and the decent profit margin that the sector offers.  He noted that finding external markets is still a major challenge for the future but that for the time the local market is able to absorb the current level of production.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 22 January 2014

The agricultural sector in Lebanon was able to overcome the economic crisis that hit most the other sectors in 2013 and recorded a notable increase of 5.8% compared to 2012, when it grew by only 1.9% compared to 2011, and decreased in 2011 by 12.5% compared to 2010. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Customs authorities, growth in this sector was not only recorded in exports of fruits and vegetables but also those channeling through Agri Plus programme which has registered an increase of 14% in 2013 with exports reaching 519 thousand tons compared to 455 thousand tons in 2012, and 400 thousand tons in 2011, and this according to information provided by the Minister of Agriculture Hussein Hajj Hasan and IDAL’s GM Nabil Itani during their joint press conference held at the Ministry of Agriculture last week.
Hajj Hassan also noted that his Ministry will continue its efforts in 2014 to increase the volume of exports to Europe whilst highlighting that exports by land stopped for only a few days because of the Syrian crisis, but was more affected by the doubling of transportation costs. He also revealed that sea freight has increased by 40% in 2013.
Itani presented for his part the main results of the Agri Plus programme noting that exports of potato in 2013 came in first reaching 198 thousand tons and representing 38% of the total exported quantities. Potato was followed by the exports of apple (79,200 tons) and citrus (78,000 tons), each representing 15% of the total agricultural export via Agri Plus programme.  He also noted that most exports were to Zone B (i.e. all Arab countries excluding Jordan and Syria) which attracted 69% of total exports whereas 30% of exports were directed to Zone A (Syria and Jordan).  He added that exports of olive oil almost doubled compared to 2012 and reached 2,505 tons of which 50% were exported to Zone D (i.e. North and South America and Australia) which are considered new markets for Lebanese products.  Finally, Itani indicated that IDAL is engaging with the Ministry of Finance in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture so as to repay farmers their subsidies for the exports recoded during the last 6 months of 2012; subsidies which have totaled 17 billion Lebanese Pounds, adding that the settlement of payments is being done regularly although the resignation of the Cabinet in early 2013 has somewhat affected the payment schedule.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Safir, Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar, 18 January 2014)

An Nahar newspaper published an interview with the Dean of the School of Public Health at the Lebanese University, Dr. Nina Zeidan, about the midwifery specialty offered at the University and the attempt to strengthen this profession through the establishment of a Syndicate to protect the rights of midwives.
Zeidan noted that 75 students register every year at the school of midwifery which is spread in 5 locations across Lebanon.  Of these, 50 to 55 complete their midwifery training which includes a practicum period implemented in selected hospitals where students have to attend to pregnant women.  The practicum period can delay graduation as in some areas; the trainees are not able to attend to the required number of pregnant women. Zeidan also added that students are required to follow various courses including political sciences, women’s mental, physical and psychological health as well maternal and child health.  In addition, students are also exposed to ethics and communication as well as sciences such as chemistry, statistics, biology, genetics, and nursing.
Zaidan clarified that midwives can only practice after they receive certification from the Ministry of Public Health which requires the completion of four years of university education as well as a number of practicum hours.  Meanwhile, and with regards to the establishment of the Syndicate of midwives, she pointed out that the parliamentary commission has already endorsed the related law which includes various items such as the mandate of the Syndicate, the eligibility criteria for membership, the regulation of the general assembly, the mandate of the board of the Syndicate and that of its president, its specialized committees, that of the disciplinary board, the election of the founding board and the establishment of the pension and gratuities fund.
Zeidan finally stressed the importance of the Syndicate in protecting the rights of midwives and regulating the profession.  Although midwives have the possibility to work on their own, in a hospital or in a maternity clinic, yet, there is a need for a better regulation of the profession as well as for putting in place clear disciplinary mechanism.  Finally, it should be noted that there are currently around 1400 certified midwives in Lebanon and a few remaining traditional midwives who still operate in remote rural areas.
Source: Al-Nahar 22 January 2014

An Nahar newspaper published a report about the Rural Development and Agro-industry Cooperative in Akkar-Dinnyeh and which was established by the Safadi Foundation in Deir Dulum in Akkar.  This region is considered to be the prime agricultural region of North Lebanon; a region which relies on agriculture as its major economic resource.  The cooperative organisation is working within the slogan of “agriculture for sustainable growth”  which, according to As Safadi general director Riad Alameddine aims at achieving the following: building and strengthening the capacities of farmers and their families, creating new economic opportunities to curtail rural migration to urban areas and  increasing farmers’ competitiveness through strengthening the quality of their production chain, facilitating access to local and external markets, in addition to safeguarding a healthy environment and to encouraging sustainable agriculture.
The cooperative is currently involved in several activities through its four divisions which include a) a centre to process agricultural products that produces and markets pomegranate molasses, b) a packaging centre for citrus fruits as well as other fruits that is operating according to international standards and exporting to KSA, UAE, Syria and Iraq, c) a honey processing workshop which receives the raw supply from farmers and then processed into honey discs and jars, and finally d) a greenhouse for hydroponics cultivation which was set up with funding from the USAID and which aims to introduce farmers to this new agriculture technologies.  With regards to the latter, the cooperative has noted that in 2013, more than 90 farmers were able to have a first harvest of pepper bells of various colors.  In addition, the vertical farming technology will soon be used to plant strawberries.
Source: Al-Nahar 22 January 2014

The endemic gap between rich and poor continues to widen thus constituting a serious global risk in 2014 notwithstanding the slow start of economic recovery in a number of countries.  Indeed, widening income gap, and its accompanying social unrest, is likely to have a major impact on the global economy in the coming decade.  This was the main conclusion of the annual risk assessment report prepared by the World Economic Forum in preparation for its 44th annual conference planned to be held in Davos between 22 and 25 January, and entitled “The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business”.
The sixty-page report reviews some 31 risks of a global nature which can potentially have a negative impact on the global economy in the next decade.  The report classifies these risks into five main categories namely economic, environmental, geopolitical, social and technological.  The risks are assessed on the basis of their potential occurrence and impact.  According to experts, the most likely to occur risks are the following: growing income gap, severe weather conditions, imbalances in employment, climate change and cyber attacks.
The report includes a review of three specific risk cases namely the increasing risk of cyber attacks, more complications in the geopolitical factors, growing youth unemployment and limited job opportunities.  The report also highlights the double-risk challenges confronting the adult population in productive age and linked to rising unemployment and prohibitive costs of education and reviews their expected impact on political and social stability and economic development.  The report also provides insights as to how these risks can be mitigated especially since more than 50% of the global youth population is seeking employment whereas informal employment remains dominant in developing countries which include 90% of the world youth.
Within this same vein, Swiss Re's Group Chief Risk Officer David Cole, noted that the younger generation in advanced countries continues to struggle within a contest of a shrinking job market and a mismatch between available skills and market needs.  Cole called for including the youth in discussions aimed at finding solutions in harmony with their circumstances, and the creation of appropriate educational systems and effective job markets.
The report zooms in on four key risks which are likely to affect global stability within the next decade namely a) mistrust of and uncertainty in emerging markets, b) trade and political divergences amongst countries, c) increase in the number of low intensity conflicts, and d) slow progress in addressing global challenges given the continuous blockage within global governance institutions which will undoubtedly reflect in further failure to adequately address environmental and development challenges.
Source: The Daily Star 17 January, Info Mubasher website 18 January 2014

A new opinion poll released by bayt.com in collaboration with YouGov for research and consultation and entitled Career Aspirations in the Middle East and North Africa notes that 70% of the Lebanese believe that monthly salary is the key consideration for choosing a job, whereas 66% prioritise potentials for career advancement as a key consideration, and 28% prioritise the challenge offered by the job.

The data used in this opinion poll were gathered through online questionnaires that involved 7445 participants who responded online over a period stretching between 22 October and 5 November 2013.  Participants came from Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Lebanon.  Some 38% of the Lebanese respondents noted that their current job was their first whilst 11% said that they took their job because it offered a good salary.  Another 21% noted that they chose to work in the sector that they aspired to whilst 11% took their job because they were attracted by the brand name (good reputation) of their employer.
When asked about challenges to their career advancement, 47% of the respondents pointed out to the limited opportunities for advancement and 24% to poor management.

For more information about the survey, please review the following link: Career Aspirations in the Middle East and North Africa Survey
To be noted, bayt.com carried out an earlier opinion poll focusing on business entrepreneurship and which was administered online between 2 and 15 September of last year, published previously on WEEPortal on 18/11/2013, and entitled: "According to Bayt.com 77% of the Lebanese prefer to work in the private sector"

ILO is releasing today its new report entitled "Global Employment Trends 2014".  The report calls for a rapid transformation towards employment friendly policies aiming at increasing workers' income, strengthening economic growth and employment opportunities, consolidating social protection and encouraging a shift towards formal economies in the emerging as well as developed economies.  The report notes that global markets are still stumbling despite a clear but slow economic improvement.  In addition, the number of unemployed globally has increased in 2013 and reaching 202 million people whilst the average unemployment rate remains high having reached 6%, and mainly concentrated in East Asia, South Asia, followed by Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe.  The report also highlights a continuous trend of decreasing women's economic participation in East Asia where women occupy only 2 out of every 5 new jobs created.

The report insists on the importance of integrating the youth population in the work force especially since the total number of unemployed who are less than 25 years of age has globally reached 74.5 million people and that the global unemployment rate of young people is 13%, i.e. twice as high as the global average.
  According to the report, the job markets in developed countries and in the EU have not scored any improvement in 2013.  Meanwhile, the average economic growth in the MENA region in 2013 was less than what is needed to create enough new jobs to absorb the population growth in the region thus scoring one of the highest unemployment rates worldwide.    The ILO report also noted that there is a dearth of paid employment opportunities in Sub Saharan Africa where the rate of employment in marginal work in 2013 was the highest in the world.

According to Raymond Torres, the Director of the International Institute for Labour Studies at the ILO, economic improvement in the world economy will not be sufficient to address the root causes of the crisis worldwide.  He added that in the near future, the global economy will most likely to continue growing at a slower pace compared to the pre-crisis period.  This will very much hamper the needed task of creating 42 million new jobs yearly in order to absorb the newcomers into the world job sector.
Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Hayat  21 January 2014