Other news

The Minister of Economy and Trade Alan Hakim called yesterday for the enactment of a private-public partnership law as an optimal mechanism to finance and properly manage the infrastructure, motivate economy, create jobs and cuts the general budget’s deficit. And while he stressed that infrastructure projects, particularly in the sectors of electricity, water, renewable energy, roads and environment contribute by 7% to the growth of the economy, Hakim revealed that the plan to implement the above partnership in the electricity sector has been delayed due to political reasons. The minister was speaking during the opening of the ‘Public-Private Partnership Projects Opens Up New Horizons’ conference organized by the Higher Council for Privatisation (HCP) and the Alumni Caucus of the French HEC University for Graduate Business Studies at the Higher Institute of Business (ESA) in Beirut. On the occasion, HCP general director Ziad Hayek considered the said partnership as the headline for the recovery of the national economy pointing out that “due to the size and value of the huge investments involved, the partnership scheme will undoubtedly lead to the massive creation of jobs that are much needed to counter the persistent unemployment crisis.”  Hayek estimated that the proposed projects could be expected to secure over 200 thousand new jobs over a period of 5 years, including 80 thousands jobs for fresh graduates. Similarly, the head of the World Bank’s Public-Private Partnerships, Lawrance Carter, urged the Lebanese Government to speed up the approval of necessary legislations that will allow the implementation of new investment initiatives in partnership between the two sectors, and pledged the support of his organisation to energy and power projects. Carter speech came during a luncheon held in his honor in Beirut, where he met a number of heads of parliamentary committees and their members, at the eve of the conference on private-public partnership. (As Safir, An Nahar, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, February 17, 2016)

 

L’Orient Le Jour published yesterday a special article on the state of chocolate industry in Lebanon highlighting its strong performance despite challenges facing the industrial sector in general. According to the latest figures published by the Lebanese Customs, exports of made-in-Lebanon chocolate were geared to the following Arab countries: Saudi Arabia (1496 tons), Jordan (502), Qatar (484), Iraq (320), UAE (300) and Kuwait (202 tons), representing nearly 81% of total sales in 2015. 

L’Orient Le Jour spoke to a number of owners of chocolate and candy factories to get further insight on the subject. The head of the marketing department at Souchet chocolate factory, Mohammed Dandan, said Saudi Arabia is the largest market of this domestic product. Likewise, Liliane Hayek, Pralino quality officer, confirmed that about 90% of sales are headed to the countries of the region, however the PR director at Ethel factory, Joelle Saadeh, pointed out that consumption of chocolate in Lebanon is gradually declining. 

The newspaper linked the success of the chocolate industry to its capacity to adapt to the tastes of different consumers. However, it also outlined the existing challenges facing the sector, notably the closing of the Syrian-Jordanian borders and the high production cost, particularly of electric power as a result of frequent cuts. It went on to say that electricity charges represent 15% of total production cost for some factories in Beirut, but only 3% for the Ethel sweet factory in Zahle that benefits from 24/24 power service. For her part Hayek expressed serious concerns towards the growing competition from recently relocated Syrian factories that are now operating in Lebanon and are able to sell at more competitive prices. (L’Orient Le Jour, February 15, 2016)

 

In a feature published today, As Safir daily highlighted the booming and expansion of open popular markets in the Beqaa area as a way to counter the deteriorating economic conditions.  Bazaars have been known for decades in the eastern Lebanon region and visiting them has become a common tradition and a weekly outing for many families, the newspaper noted. Al Marj Monday Souk for example, is considered one of the most ancient marketplaces in Beqaa (over 90 years old). Scrutinizing the development of this phenomenon, As Safir outlined that the origin of souks can be traced to earlier markets for trading in livestock. Gradually, these markets developed into a full fledged agricultural market displaying a variety of domestic produces, mainly potatoes, onions, garlic, herbs, apples, pears, quince and many other fruit items. Today’s business has further expanded to cover additional merchandises such as fabrics, clothes, home accessories, dairy products, traditional medicine, groceries, foodstuffs and mouneh products. The newspaper went on to note that the recent Syrian refugee crisis and its negative fallbacks on Syrian households has favored such markets which now thrive with Syrian buyers and sellers who find in such bazaars an opportunity to mitigate their harsh living situation. Presently, the newspaper concluded, refugees represent over 70% of total visitors.

As Safir, February 16, 2016

 

The Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industries (SLFI) appealed to the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) to support its participation at next week’s Gulfood 2016 Exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Center. The event which annually hosts over 5 thousand exhibitors and receives some 90 thousand visitors from 160 countries around the globe, is expected this year to witness the participation of some 53 Lebanese companies, of which 40 companies will display inside the Lebanese pavilion and the remaining in other sectoral pavilions. In the same vein, IDAL, Nabil Itani, noted yesterday while receiving of an SLFI delegation headed by Ahmad Hoteit, that the food industry is one of the promising sectors in the country because it possesses the elements and uptime for growth. Itani stressed the need to assist in the international promotion and marketing as well as establish new outlets for the industry’s production. He also pointed out that the Gulfood exhibition has become a regular hub attracting major food industries of the world and that Lebanon has started to carve its strong presence in the regional and international markets. He  lauded the visible growth accomplished by the sector as a result of keeping up with the internationally-recognized standards of production, packaging and exporting. Similarly, Hoteit underlined the importance of the state’s contribution in this respect and hailed IDAL’s supportive role at all global exhibition venues. Finally, Hoteit called for the setting of an annual calendar of external exhibitions and events so as to attract the greatest number of Lebanese exhibitors. (Al Diyar, February 16, 2016)

 

The Minister of Tourism Michel Pharaon pledged during his visit yesterday to the ‘Religious Pilgrimage and Tourism’ association for Beit Anaya- Harissa that religious tourism will be one of the main pillars of his Ministry for the year 2016. Commending the cooperation between the tourism department and the above association, Pharaon said it should help in identifying existing opportunities and sharing with the world the landmark religious sites of Lebanon. To this effect, Pharaon announced the holding of an upcoming conference of Arab tourism ministers and ministers in Diaspora at the end of next May. During his visit, Pharaon pointed out to the expansion of rural tourism which he reportedly worked on boosting since he first became minister, noting the high occupancy rate achieved at the various guest houses across Lebanon during the months of July until October of last year. Finally, Pharaon  noted that rural tourism was in the past considered something of a fashion, while he saw it as a strategy to save the tourism sector which declined by 35% between 2011 and 2014. )Al Mustaqbal, February 15, 2016(

 

The Chair of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), Nabil Itani, pointed out that the integration in 2012 of the domestic olive oil into “Agri-Plus” export program has achieved good results, doubling the size of exports by 231% (from 3238 tons in 2011 to 7521 tons in 2015). Itani’s statement came during a workshop organized by IDAL in Hasbaya area, to clarify the mechanism of implementation of the repayment of the USD7.5 million-worth Chinese loan through the export of made-in-Lebanon products (such as olive oil, beverages, nuts, dried and canned fruits and jams). He went on to add that Lebanese olive oil exports succeeded in entering unprecedented foreign markets, notably the Americas and Australia, and that is despite growing international competition. (Al Hayat, Al Mustaqbal, February 15, 2015)

 

The Syndicate of Jewelers and Goldsmiths in Lebanon criticized in a statement released last Saturday the serious paralysis that is affecting major productive and commercial sectors in the country. For the fourth consecutive year, the statement said, the industry has been suffering a sluggishness that has lately reached the point forcing many industry owners and designers to close their shops and emigrate. The statement appealed to the authorities to show more support to this industry and to save what is left of it. 

In a related vein, the Center for Sustainable Training at the Antonine University organized a 3-day workshop from February 4-6 that focused on the jewelry sector in Lebanon. Quoting industry statistics, the head of the center, Jenny Mshantaf, stated that while Lebanon is considered one of the top five jewelry producers in the world, universities of the country are not engaged in teaching the subject/art. 

 

The Daily Star, February 8, Al Mustaqbal, February 7, 2016 

 

The president of the Federation of Lebanese Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, president of Beirut and Mount Lebanon Chamber, Mohammad Shucair, signed last Monday a memorandum of cooperation with the President of the Syndicate for Owners of Restaurants, Cafes and Night Clubs, Toni Rami, aimed at training personnel in the hospitality sector. The purpose of the training which will take place at the Federation’s food safety center is to rehabilitate workers on using up to date methods that ensure the health and safety of Lebanese consumers. The training will be implemented as part of a series of workshops that will be conducted by specialized training companies. The sessions to be held during the current year and will be free for the first level. 

In the same vein, work is underway at the Lebanese University to establish a fully-equipped and specialised center for food and water quality and safety as a result of cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health. The quality center is expected to become a national and officially accredited reference for relevant testing and analysis and will lead to the transformation of the role of the University from a consuming institution to a primary partner in community and productive services. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, February 9, 2016)

 

The United National Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued last week a number of recommendations on ways for extending social protection to agricultural communities in Lebanon. This step followed the organisation of a workshop entitled ‘Support of social protection policies for rural and agricultural communities’ which was sponsored by Minister Akram Shehayeb and which addressed two key issues, notably: the significance of social protection in enhancing the living standards of farmers, present legislations and draft laws proposals aiming to develop social conditions in rural areas. Participants during the workshop also discussed the roles of farmers’ solidarity funds, agricultural cooperatives and trade unions, in securing social protection and came out with the following recommendations:

-         Harmonize all data produced by the ministry of agriculture in order to achieve an integrated classification of farmers so as to allow them access to existing social, agricultural and health services.

-         Conduct feasibility studies on ways of providing social protection coverage for farmers through the Social Security Fund and mutual cooperative funds

-         Provide social protection for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged farmers in rural areas, in collaboration with the ministries of agriculture and social affairs, and in the framework of the World Bank supported ‘poverty project’

-         Develop benchmarks and guidelines of decent work, safety and health for agriculture, in coordination with the above ministries and the ILO .(Al Diyar, February 6, 2016)

 

Jbail mayor, Ziad Hawat, announced the imminent start of a USD10 million worth eco-touristic project that links in its first phase the historic city with the Bentael Nature Reserve and with Saint Charbel in Annaya in its second phase. Hawat revealed that while the first stage includes building a 6-km walking and biking trail stretching from the beach up to Bentael, the project in its second stage involves the construction of an eco-friendly aerial cableway from the city to the  Monastery. The cableway line is expected to pass through the river beds all the way to Saint Charbel in the mountainous town of Annaya. Outlining its economic feasibility of the project, Jbail mayor pointed out that the project has many positive aspects namely: capitalization on the panoramic sceneries and beautiful landscapes of the city and surroundings; setting up a station at the Bentael Reserve to promote rural and eco-tourism in the area; a lower rate of pollution as a result of lower toxic emissions by cars visiting St Charbel; and the promotion of religious tourism. The mayor stated that the area receives every year some five million visitors by car of who some one million visitors will be redirected towards using the aerial cableway so as to lower the present pollution level. (Al Diyar, February 6, 2016)