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Combating foreign workforce: bakeries threaten with strike

31-7-2019

Following the warning by the head of the Syndicate of Owners of Bakeries in Lebanon, Kazem Ibrahim, to raise prices of bread in response to labor ministry’s recent actions against foreign workforce (https://lkdg.org/ar/node/18689), the Union of Syndicates of Bakeries announced yesterday that the recent measures add more financial burdens on bakeries. A statement by the Syndicate advised ministry inspectors to halt all procedures to give time to resolve the impasse, and appealed to the ministry of economy and the three heads of state to find a quick solution, threatening to strike in case they failed to reach the desired end. The bakeries sector, the statement said, is crucial in the daily life of all the Lebanese people, adding, that since the seventies of the last century, the industry abounds with foreign workers, notably Syrians, who are professionals in the field. The labor ministry measures could undermine the performance of the said sector, especially that there is no alternative at hand to replace Syrian laborers. In its latest moves, the labor ministry’s information bureau said yesterday, that the inspection teams have completed their field missions and began night inspection rounds as of July 29, noting that it will soon kick off midnight searches on bakeries. Inspection has targeted 13 regions on July 29 and 30, including: Hazmieh, Dohat Aramun, Barbur, Zeidaniyeh, Antelias, Dora, Saadnayel, Ksara, Salhiyeh, Jezzine, Baalbaq, Halba and Deir Dlum, the bureau stated. Inspectors visited around 51 shops and institutions, issuing 43 tickets and 17 notices, noting that night inspection covered 8 institutions in Hazmieh and Dohat Aramun resulting in 19 tickets and 3 notices, the statement concluded. (Al Diyar, July 31, 2019)


Previous related news:
Combatting illegal foreign workforce in Lebanon
 

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Rashaya Summer Festival 2019, shopping and tourism festival in Baalbaq

30-7-2019

The Syndicate of Owners of Shops and Commercial Institutions in Beqaa, launched yesterday the 21st edition of the Shopping and Tourism Festival at the southern entrance of Baalbaq. Concurrently, the 8th Agricultural Fair and the annual International Trade and Industry show was kicked off in a festive mood. During the opening, the agriculture minister, Hassan Lakkis, said the sector is experiencing several drawbacks seen mainly in the illicit smuggling activity on the land borders which has adverse effects on local farmers in terms of prices and dumping. He pointed to his ministry’s coordination with competent departments, namely security and customs, in order to resolve the impasse and protect Lebanese farmers and producers. For his part, the minister of state for international trade, Hassan Mrad, said the “inauguration today of the festivals and markets is a victory over the economic challenges the country is facing.” Meanwhile, the president of Beitiddine Festivals, Nura Jumblat, sponsored on Sunday the opening of Rashaya Summer Festivals 2019 on invitation from Rashaya mayor and the Rashaya Youth Gathering. She kicked off the Flower Fair in the public park and the crafts and mooneh exhibition in the heritage souk of Rashaya. Jumblat in her address boasted the touristic, cultural and traditional features of Rashaya which qualify it to be on Lebanon and the region’s map. For his part, the minister of industry Wael Abu Faour, underlined the importance of Rashaya's festivals in stimulating the economic cycle. (Al Diyar, July 30, 2019)

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Qubayat winner of ‘Favorite Village’ competition for the year

30-7-2019

The Qubayat residents celebrated on Sunday the election of their Akkari town as best village in the fourth edition of L’Orient Le Jour “Favorite Village” competition (https://bit.ly/2OtlHuP). After the results were out, the town’s people rushed to the public square rejoicing to the beat of music, drums and fireworks. On the occasion, mayor Abdo Makhul, congratulated Qubayat villagers and all Akkaris on the victory, with a special tribute to the town’s children whom, as he said, played a prominent role in securing votes. They went door to door encouraging Akkari villagers to vote for Qobiyat, Abdo said. “We partook in the competition to keep the title. Before, it was Akkar al Ateeka and now Qubayat, and tomorrow another Akkari village shall be the winner which will rekindle our victory,” Abdo boasted. To recall, Qobiyat, which received 55.3% of the votes (followed by Barook 27.2% and Besharreh 4.6%), is famous for its scenic views and historic legacy, and has contributed to rural tourism for years. Prime minister Saad Hariri congratulated the winning village in a tweet, saying, “Congratulations to Qubayat and to all Akkar and its people the beauty of their nature and spirit.”. (L’Orient Le Jour, Al Mustaqbal, July 30, 2019)


Previous related news:
‘Favorite village’ in its fourth edition
Third edition of Lebanon’s Favorite Village
Student campaign in support of Akkar al 3ateeqa for the best town competition
Seer Denniyyeh voted best village in Lebanon in OLJ competition
‘Favorite village’ competition to promote rural tourism in Lebanon
 

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‘Lebanese Arak Day’ and ‘International Tasting Day’ in Zahleh

29-7-2019

President Michel Aoun inaugurated on Friday the International Tasting Day and the Lebanese Arak Day organized by the ministry of Agriculture in Zahleh. On the occasion, the mayor of Zahleh- Taanayel, Asaad Zgheib, praised the Zahleh made arak, saying it constitutes a core part of the social and economic fabric of the Bekaa town. He also thanked foreign minister Jibran Bassil for promoting made-in-Lebanon products in the world, namely the arak, wine and traditional mouneh. For his part, Ghassan Khoury, the head of the Lebanese National Energy (LNE), said arak is Lebanon’s national heritage drink that we seek to preserve and develop to pass on to our children, as he put it. “Our support to the production of arak is part of our support to other sectors and goods that are key to the national economy,” Khoury maintained. He hoped it will contribute, albeit partially, to the revival of the domestic economy and to shifting it to a productive one. Likewise, Bassil, described arak as a Levantine drink par-excellence, reminding that the grapes and expertise come from Lebanon, while the anise come from neighboring Syria. The secret of the Lebanese arak lies in the high quality anise seeds used in distilling it, making it a distinguished spirit globally, Bassil boasted. Arak earned a special day, and soon it will have its house in Zahleh and Abrin, due to ongoing cooperation between the private and public sectors and the civil society organizations, Bassil noted, hence speeding up the shift from a rent-based to a productive economy. (Al Diyar, July 27, 2019)

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MoU between ministry of economy and LAU to promote youth participation in economic revolution

29-7-2019

The minister of economy and trade Mansour Bteish singed on Friday a memorandum of understanding between his ministry and the Lebanese American University (LAU), represented by its president Joseph Jabra, in the service of the youth. Bteish said the ministry through said MoU looks forward to greater cooperation in the form of workshops, quality courses, seminars in all fields, and the exchange of studies as well as legal, scientific and professional expertise within the academic and research framework. “We are working to restore balance gradually to the public finance and revive national economy through stimulating domestic production, both in services and goods,” Bteish stated. In this way, we can restore the confidence of citizens and the young people in particular, he added. The increase in jobs for the Lebanese in their country is a priority for the ministry which will be completed today through this cooperation with the LAU, Bteish concluded. For his part, Jabra stressed the importance of the above MoU in mobilizing the future generations and rehabilitating them to get involved in the economic revolution. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, July 27, 2019)

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Cooperation in support of food industries between LAU and IRI

26-7-2019

The Lebanese American University (LAU) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Industrial Research Institute (IRI) to establish a legal framework of cooperation for the development of applied research, exchange of information and expertise and training in the Lebanese food industry. During the signing, acting dean of the school of arts and sciences, Dr. Kostantine Daher, stressed the importance of collaboration, especially that LAU boasts capacities and academic capital that qualify it to sustain the goals of the IRI and the center which supports SMEs in the food sector, in order to start a food advisory unit. Similarly, the IRI administrative director, Selim Kfoury, underlined the need to comply with the quality specifications and international certifications, as well as to cooperate with international organizations to this effect. The MoU, Kfoury said, is part of the IRI’s strategy to open up to academic institutions and achieve integration between the Institute and the LAU in the service of science, applied research, development, industry and consumer protection. (An Nahar, July 26, 2019)

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The Social Entrepreneurship Policy Framework in Lebanon

25-7-2019

In partnership with Beyond Reform & Development (BRD), the Serail hosted yesterday a national consultative workshop on the Social Entrepreneurship Policy Framework in Lebanon. The workshop aims to explain the definition of the social entrepreneurship notion within the Lebanese context, agree on a policy framework, set benchmarks to guide the rehabilitation of social institutions and discuss the future general and special incentives for these institutions. On the occasion, the head of Business Environment and Innovation at the Prime Minister’s Office, Yasmina Khoury Raphael, said our work today focuses on how to better support social entrepreneurship, being an incentive for social change, bolster innovation, create jobs and push for inclusive growth. The workshop, Raphael maintained, is a fruit of three years of consultation between stakeholders to put a national definition for social entrepreneurship and set a model for policies, as well as an institutional structure and an outline for incentives to stimulate the growth of the sector. For her part, the co-founder of Beyond, Natalia Manhal, considered this stage as vital, for it brought together social entrepreneurs and concerned players in business and public institutions to unify the definition of social entrepreneurship, in addition to setting cooperation mechanisms, in order to achieve growth in the sector and reach a sustainable social impact within the whole country. (Al Mustaqbal, July 25, 2019)

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The ‘Visitor experience’ service to improve the performance of the tourism sector

25-7-2019

Tourism minister Avedis Guidanian launched yesterday the ‘Visitor Experience’ service to improve the performance of the tourism sector in the country. Lebanon is one of the few world countries and the first in the region to adopt said service, the minister said. Platforms are now installed at the Rafic Hariri International Airport’s Duty Free section and at the departure gates, he explained, with the aim to record foreign visitors’ assessment of their visit to the country. This is done through filling in a questionnaire from the moment of their arrival at the airport until the end of their visit, which includes information about the hotel, restaurants, shopping, banking and transport services, or any other data involved. The service, Guidanian stated, is implemented and offered, free of charge to the ministry of tourism, by GWR leader in quality control and training. Noting, that the installation of platforms was completed in cooperation with the ministry of public works, MEA and the Airport’s general director. The CEO of GWR, Nabil Rizkallah, said the project is all-inclusive and is aimed to reinforce the visitor’s experience, irrespective of their nationality, whether a foreigner, a Lebanese expat or Arab guest. The outcomes of the survey will be used by the tourism ministry to continuously enhance its performance in coordination with the private sector, he maintained. (Al Diyar, July 25, 2019)

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Minister Abu Faour pledges to protect local goods from dumping

24-7-2019

The minister of industry, Wael Abu Faour, pledged to protect domestic products threatened with dumping. He stressed during a meeting on July 22 with a delegation of the Matn Industrialists Gathering, that the climate in the cabinet has become more favorable to bolster industry. There are several handy solutions to revive the sector, he said, revealing that Banque du Liban’s Governor, Riad Salameh, has instructed, during a meeting with him, in the presence of LIA head, Fady Gemayel, to prepare a new mechanism that supports interest on the operating capital of the industrial sector. “We have entered a new phase the results of which are positively reflected on the sector,” Abu Faour stated, underlining the importance of balance between the various segments constituting the national economy. The Minister also stressed the need to give productive sectors, primarily industry, the attention, backing and protection they need to persevere, advance and contribute more to growth. On protecting made-in-Lebanon products, Abu Faour mentioned 18 decrees and decisions to this effect, warning, any attempt of dumping or illicit competition shall be confronted. He made clear that the effects of the facilitative measures taken by his industry are reaping benefits through the launch of new factories, and the upsurge in exports compared to last year’s rates. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, July 23, 2019)

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Syndicate of Jewelry in Lebanon: the 3% tax will put an end to liberal professions

24-7-2019

The Syndicate of Jewelry in Lebanon, headed by Antoine Moghanni, warned in a statement yesterday of the repercussions of the 3% tax enacted recently on imports (https://lkdg.org/ar/node/18693). The said tax which engulfs the various economic and trade sectors, notably the services sector, shall speed up their demise, according to the statement. The disguised increase of the TVA fee will eventually annihilate various liberal and service professions, turning the county into a large food market, the statement added, and driving the nation into poverty and deprivation. The Syndicate’s statement went on to say, that for the first time since its establishment, the jewelry market shows a rise in supply over demand. Many Lebanese are selling their jewelry, gold accessories, and precious stones to pay their children’s school fees and other dues, it said, pointing to a shrinking workforce in the industry, less than 1000 down from 5,000 between traders, factories and workers. Those remaining consider leaving the country. (Al Diyar, July 24, 2019)

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