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In collaboration with the Lebanese Training Center, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Saida and the South organized last Friday a training workshop on food safety targeting a number of owners of food establishments, as well as representatives of concerned associations and community organizations. Experts in food and health care presented methods of prevention that should be adopted to ensure food safety and therefore protect the health of consumers.  In a related context, the Saint Orthodox School in Nabatiyeh held a seminar on agriculture and food safety in the presence of the director general of the government-run Department for Scientific and Agricultural Research. Dr Michel Freim highlighted the factors influencing food security and spelled out the challenges facing the agricultural sector in the country, pointing to the role of the state in creation of the appropriate climate for its advancement. During the seminar Freim announced the opening soon of an agricultural and scientific research center in that major southern city. (Al Diyar, Febraury 6, 2016)

 

The international conference of donor which was convened in London yesterday pledged some USD11 billion for humanitarian needs to refugees from Syria to be released in two batches over a period of 4 years. Over half total aid is allocated for this year and the rest for the period 2017-2020 and will be earmarked first to direct assistance and secondly to better integrate the displaced in the host neighboring countries through the provision of food, education, medical support and job creation. Britain which co-hosted the conference was the first to pledge with a top-up of GBP 1.2 billion to be fully disbursed by the year 2020, increasing its total current contribution to GBP 2.3 billion. For its part Norway pledged USD1.17 billion over the next 4 years, Germany USD2.57 billion, the European Union USD3.36 billion and the United States USD 890 million. Except for Kuwait, the other countries of the Arab Gulf states were the last on the list of donors. Regarding the pledges made, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, confirmed that the amount allocated for this year, does not meet the UN call for USD 7.73 billion, which was launched to cover direct aid, in addition to the USD 1.23 billion earmarked as aid to host countries of the region. In conclusion Cameron added at the end of the conference, “today we promised, but we need to see the money”. 

As for Lebanon, it was not clear what his share of the pledges would be. In this respect, a Lebanese delegation source disclosed that this will be decided after studying the working paper submitted by the Lebanese government. At the end of the conference, Prime Minister Tamam Salam said, “We are all satisfied with the outcome and the pledge of nearly USD11 billion, adding: “it seems it is the first time that financial pledges reach this high level”. (As Safir, An Nahar, Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, February 5, 2016)

 

In its issue of yesterday, l’Orient le Jour highlighted the experience of Chef Xchange which was set up by French-Lebanese National, Karl Naim, and by Mark Washington, American national.  Both founders are financial experts and the setup is a website which allows foodies to enjoy a home cooked meal with their selected chef.  The two young men launched their website in February 2015 and chose Dubai as their company’s headquarters.  Last October, the company owners decided to move their management to Beirut to benefit from decree 313 issued by Banque du Liban and which aims at supporting small and medium enterprises which work in the knowledge economy through providing investment capital to enhance production.  Since the launch of this website, 500 chefs have already registered of whom, 100 were selected by the managers of the company. According to Naim, the average cost of the offered meal is USD 50.- including entrée, main course and deserts. Naim noted that they are facing several problems in their move to Lebanon namely in relation to the infrastructure and the high cost of internet compared to Dubai.  Naim added that many Lebanese bank are not aware of the ways of working of emerging companies and how to deal with them also pointing out to the prohibitive costs of legal and other services. (L’Orient le Jour, 3 February 2016)

 

The announcement by the Turkish Embassy in Lebanon to issue visas for Syrian drivers working on Lebanese trucks stranded on its borders has eased the tension the Lebanese productive sectors and the transportation unions have been living in the wake of the ‘compulsory visa’ order by Ankara last January 8. Some 200 Lebanese trucks loaded on a ship have been cut off at Marsin Port while on their way to Zacho and Erbil in Iraq coming from the northern harbor of Tripoli, and that is following contacts initiated by the Lebanese Foreign Ministry with competent departments in both Iraq and Turkey to resolve the problem.

Commenting on the subject, the chief of the Beqaa farmers association, Ibrahim Tarshishi, appealed to the Lebanese government to coordinate with Jordan for the reopening the Daraa crossing in Syria. “We miss the old days of normal road transport” Tarshishi lamented, while questioning the fairness of the present situation where Lebanese trucks are forced to cross all the way through Turkey, in order to reach Iraq and to deliver export products. He also stigmatized the dire general situation presently prevailing in the Arab region in the absence of Arab solidarity, and whereby very harsh obstacles were raised in front of free Arab trade circulation. (As Safir, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, February 1 & 2, 2016)

 

The Minister of Tourism Michel Pharaon signed yesterday a twinning project between the Mzaar Kfardebian Ski resort and the French Courchevel resort, pointing out that winter tourism has grown by 18% last year whereas it declined in other countries. Pharaon hoped to see further developments at the various ski centers. For his part, the representative of Kfardebian municipality, Antoine Akiki, stressed the importance of a ski resort in the region which helps to create jobs and encourages the participation of the town’s locals in initiatives that boost winter tourism in their country. On the twining project, the Courchevel representative confirmed that present techniques used at Courchevel resort will be placed at the disposal of the ski center at Mzaar Kfardebian. For his part, Minister Pharaon expressed his commitment to further improve public safety the and technical capacity at all resort centers. (Al Diyar, February 1, 2016)

 

In order to support its domestic marketing, in the face of fierce foreign competition, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli organized last Friday an olive festival under the patronage of Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayeb. On the occasion, the head of the Agriculture Department in the North, Dr. Iqbal Ziadeh, indicated that the total area of olive cultivated land has reached 22 thousand hectares pointing that the lion’s share of this agriculture activity is located in Akkar, Kura, Zgharta, Batrun, Minyyeh & Dennyeh and as far as Tripoli. Ziadeh noted that nearly 41% of Lebanon’s olive trees are located in the North, where some 274 olive presses are operational. Similarly, Louis Lahhud, who represented Minister Shehayeb at the ceremony, said that both the public and private sectors have not given this agriculture the attention it deserves, while calling for a change in the conventional approach towards the olive industry.

Meanwhile, Al- Hadatha organization in the town of Birkail, held a graduation ceremony for a group of young men and women who completed a training workshop that focused on the cultivation of olives and the production of olive oil. The event which was funded by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) took place in the presence of Al-Hadatha president, Zaher Obeid and the IRC representative and trainer, Saad Khaled. (Al Diyar, January 30, 2016)

 

According to the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index for the year 2016, published by Expert Research and Analysis, Lebanon ranked 42 among 45 markets and the last among 13 Arab countries. The results also indicated that Lebanon came last among 17 middle to high income states covered in the survey, while no change was recorded for the country’s global and regional 2015 status. The Agility Index classifies emerging markets in terms of their size, work conditions, infrastructure and other factors that make them attractive to logistics customers, mainly shipping lines, freight agents and distribution companies. It should be noted that the index uses three metrics to assess the emerging markets, and they are, size, growth attractiveness and compatibility and connectedness. On the global scene, Lebanon ranked ahead of Kenya, Cambodia and Uganda, scoring 3.43 points, at 3.7% fall from the 2015 score of 3.56 points. The survey also showed that Lebanon came in the last place according to the size and growth attractiveness sub-index which reflects the state’s economic product, the expected growth rate of the real GDP, financial stability and population size. Similarly, the market compatibility sub index placed Lebanon 33 globally, 10 among 12 Arab countries and 12  among the middle to high income countries. This sub index, to be noted, rates emerging markets by their market accessibility and business regulation, foreign direct investment, market risk and security threats, as well as by the level of likely demand for logistics services. Finally, Lebanon ranked 37 globally, 12 regionally, and 16 among the middle to high income states according to the market connectedness sub-index which assesses a country’s domestic and international transport infrastructure and how well they connect. (Al Akhbar, January 29, 2016)

 

The Lebanese Prime Minister, Tammam Salam, sponsored yesterday the launching ceremony of the initial studies project introducing three new industrial zones into the country. The PM said that such undertakings will be pioneers in their adoption of high-end industrial specifications in a sector that has long been ignored. “Industry in Lebanon is a basic pillar of economic growth,” Salam added. Similarly, the Industry ministry, Hussein Haj Hassan, maintained that the launching of new zones helps in evading unwanted problems currently in place. They also achieve several desired goals like for example: a demonstrated competence of the Ministry of Industry in management of the zones in line with relevant laws; growth of national economy; better regulating of the industrial sector; introducing new areas for industrial investment at economical prices; provision of various production inputs, including electricity at reduced costs, mainly through the use of renewable and alternative energy sources; the development of rural and remote areas through the creation of thousands of jobs that keep the Lebanese steadfast on their land. On this occasion, Italian Ambassador, Massimo Maroti, noted that ‘the development of industrial zones in Lebanon’ initiative comes as part of a UNIDO program funded by a 500 thousand euro Italian grant. He made clear that such an initiative “shall contribute to the study required to assess the industrial development capabilities of the three regions, Baalbek and Terbol, in Beqaa and Joon in Mount Lebanon”. In conclusion, Fadi Gemayel, head of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, underlined the importance of setting up such zones in suitable areas as they will boost the economic presence of these areas through the provision of jobs and the possible the opening of technical institutes to fill the new needs for skilled laborers. This, he said, may also be coupled with the setting up of touristic ventures, recreational and residential spaces as well as hospitals. (As Safir, An Nahar, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, January 27, 2016)

 

The Industry Minister, Hussein Haj Hassan, raised yesterday many questions on the need to support students/ innovators and winners of international awards through turning their creative projects into profitable and productive endeavors, as well as the need to wisely select the type of scientific research with the funds and backing  it needs from the government. Haj Hassan was speaking during the opening of a conference entitled ‘the relationship between companies and university institutions’ organized jointly by the University of the Holy Spirit and the Lebanese Association for the Advancement of Sciences (LAAS) at the University campus in Kaslik. Dr. Na3im 3ueini, head of the LAAS, said that the purpose of the conference is to link graduates with industrialists and owners of companies and factories, especially in light of an increasing trend (nearly 600 students) for PhD enrollment in the various disciplines and specialties. Participants stressed the importance of funneling doctorate projects into the labor market to reduce the spread of unemployment among the young generation in Lebanon. For his part, the president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, Fadi Gemayel, pointed out that the country “lacks the needed comprehensive vision and strategy in order to utilize youth potentials in order to achieve economic growth and social prosperity.” Likewise, Dr. Ahmad Jamal, the Director General of Higher Education, noted that efforts by young researchers and the costs invested in their college studies are often not fully rewarded, so graduates mainly end up teaching at universities, adding that this is largely due to poor coordination between research outputs and labor market needs of the industry and economic sectors more generally. (Al Mustaqbal, As Safir, Al Diyar, January 27, 2016)

 

Farmers of Deir Al Ahmar, Beqaa, urged the EU and UN affiliated aid organizations to distinguish between the longstanding Syrian workers and the newcomers displaced Syrian nationals. Lebanese farmers who made their appeal ahead of the donor conference for Syrian refugees scheduled to be held on February 4 in London, outlined that many Syrian workers and temporary refugees now refuse to work in the fields since they are registered with the UNHCR and are receiving monthly aid packages. This, farmers added in their statement, has negatively impacted the agricultural sector, the workforce and employers. Farmers warned of an alarming shift in the recruitment of Syrian labor over the past three years, adding that: “In light of the flow of food and financial assistance from the donor community, the laborer who used to work in agriculture for more than 10 years now has new demands and is setting new conditions regarding pay and working hours,” the statement went on to say. (An Nahar, January 22, 2016)