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Private companies in fastest decline

8-10-2019

The BLOM Bank’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) recorded the fastest deterioration in the private sector’s business in three months, down from 47.8 points in August to 46.4 in September. According to the Index, this swift decline was the result of an accelerating contraction in outputs during said month which was the quickest recorded since June, and remained noticeable overall. New orders at private sector firms witnessed a decline against a surge in input prices. The PMI showed further, that following a short stabilization in employment during the month of August, private sector companies cut staff numbers in September. At the same time, the private sector purchasing activity continued to deteriorate recording its quickest pace in three months. Commenting on the report’s findings, BLOM economic specialist, Ruba Shbeir, clarified that the statements issued by rating agencies weighed down heavily on investors’ confidence, stressing the need to implement structural reforms and reduce the fiscal deficit to unlock CEDRE funds and restore the waning confidence of investors. ( Al Akhbar, October 8, 2019)

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Vinefest 2019 in Beirut, Apple Day in Mashghara

4-10-2019

The minister of economy and trade, Mansour Bteish, and Beirut Governor, Ziad Shbib, inaugurated on October 2, the 12th edition of Vinefest (Oct 2 to Oct 5- Beirut Hippodrome) with the participation of China. During the opening ceremony, Nada Farah, the manager of the festival organizer, Eventions, said the presence of China this year shall facilitate the entry of Lebanese producers to the Chinese market. For her part, Eliana Ibrahim, the head of China Arab Association for Promoting Cultural and Commercial Exchange, maintained that the total annual production of wine in Lebanon can be consumed in one week in China, promising to help Lebanese wine to enter the Asian market. Bteish, in turn, said Lebanon produces roughly 9 million bottles of wine, half of which is exported, underlining the contribution of the sector not only to stimulating industry and export activity, but also to boosting agriculture through the investment of nearly 2200 hectares of vineyards. He revealed that the volume of activity in the wine sector over the past 10 years has reached 40 million euro. On the other hand, the minister of agriculture, Hassan Lakiss, during yesterday’s cabinet session at the presidential palace in Baabda, distributed apples to his fellow ministers and reporters as an initiative to support domestic products. The minister’s move is in preparation for the Lebanese Apple Day to take place on October 5 at Layali Jdoudna Restaurant in Mashghara, Beqaa. Lakiss also distributed brochures on the multiple benefits and uses of apples in various treatments, with the slogan of this year being, ‘the apples of your homeland are for you and for your children’. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, October 2 and 4, 2019)

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Made in Lebanon: 3,850 new jobs despite decline in food exports

3-10-2019

President Michel Aoun stressed that he will not relinquish a national industry struggling to survive and that will support it by all means, pledging to revive the productive sectors. This he explained will help shift the economy from rentier based to a productive economy to protect the Lebanese industry and limit importation. Aoun was speaking to the industry minister Wael Abu Faour and a delegation of the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA) led by chief Fadi Gemayel, who visited him yesterday.  He said the initial measures taken by the cabinet to promote and protect domestic industry has reaped positive outcomes, pointing to further actions to be introduced to this effect. For his part, Abu Faour presented the findings of an initial industrial survey on the available jobs, revealing some 3,850,00 prospects in the industrial sectors targeting youth. These include 1,850,00 vacancies with specific job descriptions to be posted as of Monday on the LIA and the industry ministry’s electronic portals. In a related development, Abu Faour who was speaking during the opening of ‘Supporting Agro-Industries: A Fundamental Choice for a Better Future’ conference held at the Serail, said the sector needs one thousand jobs. The sector is very vital, Abu Faour said, and the total value of its exports in 2017 accounted for nearly 23.7% of the volume of industrial exports, but which dropped to 21.11% in 2018 and to 20.5% in the first six months of the current year. Similarly, LIA president Gemayel maintained that the agro food industries require extensive study and attention to prepare them to invade various markets and boost their exports in light of the trade openness and globalization. The industry, Gemayel concluded, is a local benchmark that measures the success of the state in the development of an economic model unlike the one adopted in the past and which has proved its failure. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, October 3, 2019)
 

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Abu Kamal border reopening an opportunity for Lebanese exports

1-10-2019

After the opening of the Nassib Crossing on the Syrian-Jordanian borders on October 15, 2018 (https://bit.ly/2mrzYee), Iraq and Syria reopened yesterday, September 30, the Abu Kamal Crossing between the two countries to ease traffic of goods and people, after 5 years of interruption by ISIS and due to US pressure (https://bit.ly/2B9qYif). The crossing was officially opened after the completion of necessary arrangements, Sputnic reported, citing Maj. Gen, Naji Nemir, head of the Department of Immigration and Passports in Syria as saying. Nemir clarified that all security measures have been taken to ensure the flow of traffic at the crossing. For his part, Kazem Uqabi, the director of the Iraqi Border Crossings facility, underlined the vitality of Abu Kamal in trade exchange and in the economic revival of the area, mentioning the projected opening in 15 days of another crossing, Ar’Ar, connecting his country with Saudi Arabia. Speaking of the significance of the event, the Lebanese minister of agriculture, Hassan Lakiss, said in a statement that the crossing is the breathing space for Lebanese agricultural exports via Syria to Iraq and to other Arab countries after years of crisis and closure. He pressed the need for cooperation between Beirut and Damascus given the urgency of the crossing to Lebanon. For his part, the president of the Bekaa Farmers Gathering, Ibrahim Tarshishi, welcomed the reopening of the facility, which he said will give Lebanon access to its traditional markets, and called for the resumption of official negotiations with neighboring Syria. “Nothing can be achieved or done without our Syrian brothers,” Tarshishi concluded. Also commenting on the development, was the minister of state for international trade, Hassan Murad, who called on the Lebanese government to start official talks with the concerned Syrian authorities to facilitate the flow of made-in-Lebanon goods to Iraqi and from there to Arab markets. This, he said, is expected to ease the country’s economic crisis. An Nahar daily quoted informed sources as saying that the reopening of Abu Kamal primarily serves and is in the interest of Lebanon, anticipating a huge export activity from Lebanon like in the old times. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, October 1, 2019)

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New glass bottle plant to create 620 jobs

1-10-2019

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Fransabank Group yesterday signed a USD 24 million financing agreement to support the construction of a glass bottle manufacturing plant in Lebanon. The project is expected to provide some 620 jobs in rural areas across the country and support economic diversity as well as boost industry. To note, the funding by EIB comes within the framework of the Economic Resilience Initiative- ERI. On the occasion, Fransabank vice chairperson, Adel Kassar pointed out that backing Lebanese undertakings, especially this one, through improving access to long-term facilitated financing, is part of our strategy to contribute to the development of the private sector and increase employment prospects. Similarly, EIB vice president, Dario Scannapieco said the project will promote the production of glass bottles, which is a major part of the domestic agriculture industries, adding, this will alleviate dependence on imports and prop local production. (Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, October 1, 2019)

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Religious pressures cancel Beirut Pride 2019

30-9-2019

Following the announcement of the Beirut Pride 2019 evening initially planned for September 28th, and as a result of the former Mufti’s objection to the activities of the LGBTQI community in Lebanon, the Beirut Pride association confirmed in a statement last Tuesday the decision to cancel its activities as a result of harassment it has been subjected to by Christian and Moslem institutions. On the other hand, the founder of Beirut Pride, Hadi Demian, confirmed the pressure they were under to cancel the event for “morality” reasons. He further added that tensions between LGBTQI activists and the clergy have increased during the past few years but the struggle for rights will continue. Demian concluded by calling for a meeting which will be live streamed and which will answer all critiques and attacks that are being addressed to him personally. He further reiterated that he remains available to help any LGBT person who will contact him. For his part, the executive director of the Arab Foundation for Equality, Georges Azzi, noted that the pressure to cancel Beirut Pride was expected as this is consistent with the clamp down on liberties that the state is practicing. Azzi noted that this is resulting in moving several conferences to be held outside Lebanon, notably in Turkey. (L’orient le Jour, September 27th, 2019)

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Culinary art exchange between Lebanon & Japan

26-9-2019

Upon the invitation of the Japanese Embassy in Beirut, and in cooperation with the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night Clubs and Patisseries, the Japanese Cultural Attache, chef Keigo Tamura, visited a number of Lebanese eateries and lectured on Japanese culture and culinary art at Radisson Blu Hotel, Verdun. Present were the Japanese ambassador and members of the Lebanese Syndicate and a crowd of owners of restaurants members of the Syndicate. Tamura introduced prestigious Lebanese chefs to Japanese cooking techniques through a workshop he organized to this end, and concluded his tour with a Japanese dinner hosted by the Shogun Restaurant in collaboration with the embassy and the syndicate. After serving an assortment of Japanese dishes, he expressed his admiration for the Lebanese cuisine and praised the lure of food as an attraction in destination marketing and tourism. (Al Diyar, September 26, 2019)
 

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Prospects for agriculture: no clear strategy, protection recommendations

25-9-2019

Prime Minister Saad Hariri said yesterday that the state is not doing enough for agriculture, adding, the main glitch is in the archaic agricultural policy and the absence of a clear strategy, adding that smuggling constitutes a real problem. The government, he stressed, has developed plans to revive the sector through projects approved by CEDRE. Hariri was speaking during the opening of the Agriculture Development Conference (https://bit.ly/2n3OqJj) organized by the agriculture ministry and attended by 400 participants, including representatives of around 76 agricultural coops and 27 agricultural unions. On the occasion, the Deputy CEO of Al Ikisad Wal Aamal Group, Faisal Abu Zaki pointed out that due to the degeneration in the productive sectors and in export activity, Lebanon is experiencing huge deficits in the trade and payment balances. He emphasized the need to revive the agricultural economy and create incentives to attract investments to this effect. For his part, the president of the Federation of Chambers in Lebanon, minister Mohamad Shukeir, proposed the formation of a permanent committee under the auspices of the ministry of agriculture to follow up the implementation of recommendations in coordination with all concerned parties. In his turn, the minister of economy, Mansour Bteish, warned, no growth or prosperity without the revitalization of agriculture, industry and tourism. Commenting on the legalization of the cultivation of cannabis endorsed by the McKinsey Plan, Bteish said this can only be resolved through political compromise. Similarly, the minister of industry, Wael Abu Faour, maintained that the economic status quo in the country has once again proved that reliance on the rentier and services sectors did not bring about prosperity. Abou Faour suggested several provisos that could remedy the situation and which are based on sustaining and providing protection for the domestic productive pillars, as well as reassessing the Arab Facilitation Agreement or the agreements signed with the EU in this regard. Finally, Hassan Lakiss, the minister of agriculture, hoped the conference will come up with bold sanctions that will motivate agriculture and strengthen partnership between the private and public sectors. (Al Diyar, September 25, 2019)

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Lebanese Vinifest 2019 from 2-5 October

25-9-2019

The minister of economy, Mansour Bteish, announced the opening of the 12th edition of the Lebanese Wine Festival, Vinifest, 2019 (from October 2 to 5) at the Hippodrome of Beirut, anticipating a large participation despite the precarious economic situation. Bteish revealed that China will be the guest of honor this year to learn about the Lebanese wine production in preparation for entering the market. The minister also pointed out that the domestic food producing sector, including wine, stands out globally, stressing the need to strengthen its production and marketing here and abroad. Known as the largest vine festival in the Middle East, the 4-day event, according to An Nahar, is expected to attract some 30,000 oenophiles from Lebanon and outside. It gives showgoers the chance to taste an assortment of Lebanese wines and discover novel brands produced by wineries across the country,that are not widely known, in addition to the famous Lebanese wines. (An Nahar, Septembe 21, 2019)

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Agriculture: legalization of cannabis in parliamentary discussion and ministerial efforts to revive sector

24-9-2019

In its issue of September 22, Al Diyar daily addressed agricultural concerns in Lebanon. Since the shutdown in 2003 of the sugar beet factory in Bekaa by a cabinet decision, the Bekaa Valley has been facing indefinite problems. A majority of farmers have shifted to the cultivation of potato, onion, grains and vegetables, especially with the suspension of export to Arab countries and the invasion of foreign products via illegal border crossings, Al Diyar wrote. Bekaa farmers now look forward to the Agriculture Development Conference held today in Beirut which will focus on two main axes: Restoring the role of the agricultural sector, and emphasis on the cultivation of cannabis for medical uses in line with McKinsey Plan report. On this subject, Al Diyar pointed to demands by farmers and agricultural unions to expand cultivated areas in order to secure the return of USD one billion and two hundred thousand. The newspaper went on to say, the agriculture minister Hassan Lakiss, stressed the need to come up with alternative and productive crops, revealing that the legalization of cannabis bill is being seriously studied by the concerned parliamentary committees. On the other hand, Lakiss said in a discussion meeting with LOST in Baalbek on September 20, that local agriculture remained forsaken for decades by the successive governments, mentioning multiple challenges and hitches facing it, stressing efforts to resolve them through the development of strategic plans. Lakiss also said work is underway to overcome obstacles in export, particularly those facing land export activity, mentioning his visits to many Arab and European countries for this purpose. He clarified that in order to open new markets, the ministry has planned national days to promote Lebanese olive oil, apples and honey this coming October as well as other events devoted to organic farming and citrus fruits. (Al Diyar, September 20, 22, 2019)

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