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One million and 441 thousand tourists visited Lebanon until last August

23-9-2019

The minister of tourism, Avedis Guidanian, revealed in a press conference on Friday the number of tourists visiting Lebanon until the end of August. He said 1,441,000 persons entered the country compared to nearly 2 million in 2010. The minister pointed to a decline by 28% in the number of incomers from Arab countries and an increase by 40.47% in the rate of European visitors, which he described as an improvement, noting a surge by 54.57% in the rate of US visitors. As for other nations, Guidanian reported progress to this effect from other countries as follows: the Netherlands, from 9,000 to 15,000 incomers (that is by 48% increase); France, from 126,000 to 135,000 incomers, and Germany from 73,000 to 80,000 visitors. As for Arab tourists: the rate of visitors from Saudi Arabia rose by 81.76% compared to last year and during the 8 months of the same period of the past year. In conclusion, Guidanian announced that the tourism industry grew by 7% from last year. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, September 21, 2019)
 

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Conference to promote agriculture in Lebanon 

19-9-2019

Under the patronage of prime minister Saad Hariri, Lebanon will be hosting the Agriculture Development Conference on September 24 at Beirut Phoenicia Hotel, as was announced during a press conference yesterday. The event is organized by the ministry of agriculture, the Economic Office at the Council of Ministers, the Union of Agricultural Syndicates, the Federation of Lebanese Chambers and Al Iktisad Wal Aamal Group. Participants in the press conference stressed the importance of the projected event which will gather various concerned government and private agencies. It is expected to tackle urgent issues in the sector and possible solutions to them, which will contribute to developing an all-inclusive vision for the advancement of the sector and increasing its participation in the GDP. The Agriculture minister, Hassan Lakiss, said the conference, which is the first specialized occasion to this end, is a real opportunity for the resurgence of agriculture. And hoping it comes out with feasible recommendations, Lakiss stressed the need to follow up their implementation through the cooperation of all ministries, government departments, trade unions, agricultural unions and cooperatives. About 500 participants will be reportedly present, including ministers, lawmakers and other involved parties, as well as private sector firms and agricultural associations and specialists and other economic sectors. (Al Diyar, September 18, 2019)
 

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72.3% of Lebanese households spending is on basics, only 1.5% on entertainment

12-9-2019

A report by Fitch Solutions for credit and macro intelligence on the consumption and retails patterns in Lebanon (2019-2023), has shown that the high cost of living, specifically expenses on basic commodities depletes household budgets, leaving little room for families to spend on recreational activities. The report anticipated this trend to continue to worsen in the coming months and in 2020 due to austerity measures adopted by the government to curb the economic collapse which will directly weigh on the lifestyle of the Lebanese. A synopsis of the report published on BlomInvest Bank website, shows that the spending of Lebanese households on essentials (housing, utilities, food and non-alcoholic drinks, transportation, clothing and footwear and communications) accounts for 72.3% of their total spending in 2019, USD 33.6 billion. The housing and utilities segment, the report indicated, which includes the costs of water, electricity, gas services, housing rentals, maintenance and repair, constitute the largest spending on essentials, USD 12.2 billion. This has negatively impacted the spending on non-essentials, particularly recreation ad culture, which barely exceed 1.5% of the total household spending, equivalent to USD 500 million out of USD 33.6 billion. Spending in this area is expected to grow by only 1.4% during the period from 2019-2023, the report said. Spending on recreation items includes money spent by consumers to buy computers, cameras, toys and sports, camping tools, hobbies and cultural services, as well as on books, newspapers and stationary …(Al Akhbar, September 11, 2019)

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Private companies in a downward spiral

12-9-2019

The leading Blominvest PMI Index for August has shown that the operating conditions of private sector companies in the country have continued to deteriorate, albeit at a slower pace since January 2016. According to the above index, the production rate of Lebanese private sector businesses continued to fall in the middle of the third quarter of the current year, despite an ease in contraction for the third consecutive month. Noting that the latest reduction was the weakest since January 2016. Survey respondents attributed this to the political instability which contributed to weakening economic demand. On the other hand, new orders placed with private sector firms contracted at a laxer rate during the month of August, but was slightly less critical than in July. International sales dropped at the fastest pace in five months, noting that the decrease was modest overall and softer than the average rate. The PMI index indicated that the number of staff at private sector companies in Lebanon remained unchanged in the middle of the third quarter, which resulted in ending a 17month sequence of contraction in the workforce. Notwithstanding, companies continued to reduce their purchasing activity but at a lower rate compared to rates recorded since January 2018. (Al Akhbar, September 11, 2019)

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Business in Lebanon favors experience over specialization

11-9-2019

A new survey published jointly by Bayt.com, the Middle East’s leading job site, and YouGov, the global pioneer in online market research, has shown that companies in Lebanon focus on the strategic recruitment and retaining of talents. According to respondents, the top skills for the next 10 years are mostly related to: computer skills (95%), creative thinking (90%), time management (87%) and adaptability (81%). These are followed by job-related skills (77%), communication (77%), team work (72%) and personnel management (73%). During the recruitment process, the results of the survey found that practical experience (91%) and CV design (75%) are key factors in identifying qualified talents and recruitment decisions, in addition to the major and cultural diversity and relevance. Companies in Lebanon tend to hire individuals with good personal and technical skills, the report indicated. Those who boast interpersonal skills mainly, team work (94%), communication (94%) and time management (93%), are mostly wanted, the report concluded. (Al Akhbar, September 11, 2019)

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Trade Balance until June: Higher import bill overshadows improvement in exports

3-9-2019

The Customs Department statistics pointed an increase in the trade balance deficit by USD 372.06 million annually to USD 8.41 billion during the first half of the current year. The reasons are reportedly attributed to a surge in the import bill by USD 557.97 million annually to reach USD 10.14 billion, which overshadowed the improvement in the value of exports which recorded an increase of USD 185.91 million reaching a total of USD 1.73 billion. According to the Customs figures, Switzerland topped the list of countries importing from Lebanon, while the US came in the lead among countries exporting to Lebanon. Precious stones, precious metals and jewelry products came first on the list of exports at the end of June 2019, against ‘metallic items’ which were on top of imported goods to the country. On the other hand, a report released by the ministry of industry during the first five months of 2019, has shown that the value of industrial exports during said period stood at USD one billion and 137.4 against USD one billion and 79.3 during the same period of last year, rising by 5.4% compared to 2018 and 12.3% compared to 2017. Commenting on the above report, the industry minister, Wael Abu Faour, said the government’s interest through the adoption earlier this year of incentive and protectionist policies aimed to upgrade the sector and create growth opportunities, has started to reap results. (Al Diyar, August 26, 31, 2019)

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Food Safety Campaign: Alert on six labneh and cheese brands

30-8-2019

As part of the continuing food safety campaign, the minister of economy, Mansour Bteish, issued a directive yesterday suspending trading in six brands of labneh in different Lebanese regions which do not meet the allowable starch concentration rate and the percentage of yeasts and molds among other specifications. These are: Al Marj from Fresco in Majdlaya; Bchara Farms in Kfardlakous; Grand Pa Kfardlakous; Douihi Fromagerik in Zgharta; Cremono from Melkana in Sarafand and Gourani in Meryata. Bteish also suspended trading in some cheeses, including Halloum cheese brand from Al Wedyan hypermarket in Alma and Akkawi cheese by Ali Gourani in Meryata and the village Akkawi cheese from Dairy Fresh in Saida. The minister asked the afore-mentioned companies to pull out their products from the local markets, register the quantities withdrawn and report to his ministry in preparation for their disposal and destruction. (Al Mustaqbal, August 30, 2019)

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Wine and cheese tasting festival in Ehden

28-8-2019

The Monastery of St Sarkis and Bacchus, Ehden, saw the opening of the wine and cheese tasting festival (from August 23 to 25). Among the wines discovered this year and which participated in the event, were the pecan and lemon wine in addition to ten high end liqueurs. The head of the monastery, Father Ibrahim Bou Rajel, said the proceeds from the festival will, for the second consecutive year, go to support Antonine schools and universities students, in addition to strengthening local production and the national labor force. Recalling, that last year’s proceeds exceeded LBP 30 million. (An Nahar, August 28, 2019)

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Lakiss calls on farmers to export potatoes to Iraq

28-8-2019

Agriculture minister, Hassan Lakiss, tweeted yesterday urging Lebanese farmers and exporters to immediately export locally-grown potatoes to Iraq. The decision, Lakiss explained, came after the Iraqi ministry of agriculture announced the opening of its land borders to facilitate the entry of the Lebanese crop. This step, Lakiss said, is part of his ministry’s efforts to open global and Arab markets to all made-in-Lebanon products to support farmers and cut losses incurred as a result of the stagnation of production. (Al Mustaqbal, August 28, 2019)

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Farmers' Market in the heart of Hamra, Beirut

27-8-2019

In its issue of today, An Nahar newspaper shed light on a newly-established farmers market in the bustling street of Jeanne d’Arc located at the intersection of Sidani and Makdessi streets, in the heart of the capital. The market which carries the name of “Souk aal Souk” (i.e. “drive to the market”), is a joint project by the Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU), Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, AUB and the AUB Neighborhood Initiative. The market showcases traditional, fresh and healthy dishes alongside handicrafts, and works of embroidery, home-made soaps and other artisan items. For more on the subject, An Nahar interviewed a number of participants. Hana Hamzeh, for example, from the Mount Lebanon village of Obey, makes cookies and desserts with healthy recipes. She started working from home before she rented a booth in Souk el Tayyeb. Now, she divides her time and work between the two markets, as she said. People have become healthy food mongers, preferring to consume less sugar and butter and favoring gluten free products, she boasted. Similarly, Victor Shami, who just completed his fifth year in decorative arts at ALBA university, said the souk allows him to mingle with like-minded people. (An Nahar, August 27, 2019)

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