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Two new economic zones in Batroon, Tyre

22-3-2019

The joint parliamentary committees headed by Deputy House Speaker Elie Ferzli, ratified two draft bills involving the construction of special economic zone in the districts of Batroon and Tyre, and another related to Horj Beirut natural reserve. The session held on March 20 was attended by the foreign minister Jibran Bassil, the minister of energy and water resources Nada Bustani and the environment minister Fadi Jreisati. Two sub-committees were also formed to study proposals concerning natural reserves, particularly the Lizab-Diniyeh reserve and the amendment of the water decree No. 77. Bassil described the setting up of the two zones in Tyre and Batroon as a stimulant to the economic cycle and an instigator for investments in the country. Such zones attract concerned people to sectors that boast tax and service incentives as well as administrative facilities. This is an excellent move, he said, which can be a starting point for export bound to Syria, Iraq, the Arab world and globally. (An Nahar, March 21, 2019)

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MoET: Extra food should be distributed to the needy

21-3-2019

The minister of economy & trade (MoET), Mansur Bthaysh, issued a circular yesterday instructing restaurants and hotels to channel the edible food leftover to the Lebanese Food Bank, under the motto, Together Against Hunger. According to the circular, that within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals which engage joint efforts of the public and private sectors, as well as, civil society, and since social responsibility requires all institutions to contribute to supporting their communities particularly those within their geographic area. And since the Lebanese Food Bank follows a clear-cut mechanism which ensures the safety and edibility of leftover food from the time it is received to the time it is delivered to the needy and homeless persons, and since it is responsible for the safety of delivered food, therefore, we advise all eateries and hotels to cooperate with the Lebanese Food Bank to this effect. The Bank will accordingly inform them with the names of the beneficiaries. (Al Mustaqbal, March 21, 2019)
 

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Government memo gives preference to Lebanese goods

21-3-2019

Following the meeting headed by PM Saad Hariri to discuss national industry (https://goo.gl/G8SMiV), the prime minister issued a circular yesterday requesting all public institutions and departments, municipalities and municipal federations to give preference to made-in-Lebanon goods in all bids and state procurements. This includes in particular, the goods that have been classified along with their required specifications in the decrees released by the council of ministers. Hariri asked all above bodies to submit a quarterly report to the presidency of the cabinet about all completed transactions indicating their compliance with the said circular. For his part, the minister of industry, Wael Abu Faour, thanked Hariri for his quick response, pledging to follow up the commitment of the public institutions as monitored by the Lebanese Audit Bureau and the Public Procurement Management Administration. Abu Faour stressed that above circular will make a quantum leap in terms of increasing the productive capacities of the national industry or in securing a broad outlet for national products. The size of public procurement is exceptionally large, explained Abu Faour. They exceeded USD 5 billion according to 2016 and 2017 figures of the Procurement Administration, especially in certain departments and municipalities whose purchases are monitored and audited by said administration. Likewise, the head of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, Fadi Gemayel, considered the prime minister’s circular as a new hope for the sector. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, March 21, 2019)
 

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Akkar farmers’ protest against imports of Egyptian potatoes

20-3-2019

Potato growers in the Akkar plains staged a sit in on March 18 in front of the Agriculture Department in the town of Abdeh to protest the entry of Egyptian potatoes to the local markets. Participating in the demo, were the head of the Awkaf in Akkar, Sheikh Malek Jdeideh, Future Movement MP, Walid Baarini, the head of the Lebanese Popular Movement, MP Mustafa Ali Hussein, along with the mayors and makhatir of the area. Protestors voiced their anger about dumping the domestic market with imported Egyptian potato which makes it difficult to dispose of the local produce. During the sit-in, Hussein appealed to the government, namely to the agriculture minister, Hassan Lakiss, to intervene to prevent the entry of large quantities of the produce at the peak of the harvest season in Akkar. This, Hussein warned, leaves the locally-grown potatoes to slump and rot, adversely affecting the produce of the Beqaa as well. Sheikh Jdeideh for his part, asked prime minister Hariri and House Speaker Berri to play fair to anguished Akkar farmers. Baarini in turn, said the symbolic sit-in is part of a series of actions to be taken pending the outcomes of negotiations and meetings during the past few days with concerned officials to this effect. Similarly, the head of the Federation of Municipalities of Nahr Ustwan, Omar Hayek, pressed the need for an immediate end to the importation of potatoes from Egypt, as Lebanon cannot accommodate the inflow of 70,000 tons into its territory. In the same vein, Lebanese Forces LF Party MP, Wehbi Qatisha, and Future MP, Tarek Mer’bi, called on the minister of agriculture to step up measures to protect Akkari produce. (Al Mustaqbal, March 19, 2019)

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2019 flower market opens in Karantina

20-3-2019

At the invitation of the Syndicate for Flower and Seedling Farmers in Lebanon, the governor of Beirut, Ziad Shbib, inaugurated yesterday the 12th edition of the Flower and Seedling Market in Karantina in front of Forum de Beyrouth. During the opening, Shbib said the municipality has opted this year to be the first and main customer of local flower farmers and the Syndicate itself, noting that it has received and planted the first bunch of geranium seedlings (around 10,000 seedlings), awaiting the remaining batches. The purpose of this initiative, Shbib maintained, is to encourage farmers, while sending a message to Beiruti residents that they should cherish and grow this authentic heritage flower of their capital inside their homes and on their balconies. This helps in the revival of the true image of Beirut which sadly has been taken over by concrete buildings, Shbib noted. For his part, the president of the Syndicate of flower farmers, Elias Kamel, demanded the construction of a permanent flower bazaar that sustainably contributes to the development of the sector. He underlined the importance of the market in attracting tourists and flower experts from around the world to come and learn about the excellent quality and amazing flower production of Lebanon, owing to the distinctive expertise of local farmers coupled with the country’s ideal climate. Likewise, deputy chief, Joseph Abu Zeid, thanked Beirut governor and the ministries of agriculture and labor for their serious efforts to shut down illegal flower shops across Lebanon as they sell foreign brands that illicitly compete with domestic industry and impact the livelihoods of Lebanese farmers and producers. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, March 20, 2019)

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National industry to be given preference in sate procurements & bids

19-3-2019

The prime minister Saad Hariri headed yesterday a meeting to discuss national industry, in the presence of industry minister, Wael Abu Faour. The latter confirmed after the meeting that the various decrees and directives issued earlier requiring all public departments and institutions to give preference to domestic products have not been executed. Abu Faour stressed that Hariri has pledged to give preference to Lebanese production in all bids and state procurements as an indirect way to support national industry and stimulate the creation jobs that will contribute to the social and economic development. Abu Faour also revealed that a circular by the prime minister will be released in a couple of days asking all public departments holding tenders and purchases to comply by above directive. On land export activity via Syrian territory, Abu Faour pointed to a real political snag impeding it, and mentioning the high cost of export. He said he officially requested the council of ministers to approve the allocated subsidies for industrial products similar to the sum earmarked earlier to agricultural exports. In the same vein, the board of the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA), chaired by Fadi Gemayel, discussed during an urgent meeting on March 17 the industrial situation in light of the delay in implementing the demands of local industrialists which negatively impacted the size of transactions. Following the meeting, participants decided to declare a state of industrial emergency, during a press conference on March 27. They also agreed to form a committee of MPs from the industry world and from LIA board to determine the priorities to be raised in the conference. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, March 19, 2019)

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Travel and tourism fair in Beirut and craft fair in Zuk Mkhail

19-3-2019

Within the framework to promote tourism in the country, the ministry of tourism Avedis Guidanian launched yesterday the International Travel & Tourism Fair, ITM Beirut at Seaside Arena which will run from March 19 to March 21. During a press conference at the premises of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Chamber, Guidanian described the developments in the tourism sector as huge and revolutionary in terms of the positive revenues the industry is reaping. He hoped 2019 will be even better with the anticipated arrival of GCC and European tourists after lifting the ban on visiting Lebanon. On the other hand, the Kesrerwan coordination sector of the Lebanese Forces Party inaugurated on March 15, the craft fair at Espace 2000 in Zuk Mkhail. The three-day show embraced 53 pavilions showcasing local foods, paintings, gadgets, books and cosmetics. During the opening, the head of the LF Coordinating Office for Activating the Role of Women, Rula Ghanem Bawari, emphasized the Party’s efforts to empower women despite challenges and hitches in this regard. The craft fair, she said, is but a small part of an all-out agenda aimed to encourage the involvement of women and using their capacities at various levels and in different fields. For his part, LF MP Shawki Dakash said the industry is the nerve of the national economy, stressing, that the country will not recover in the absence of a robust domestic production. (Al Diyar, March 17, 19, 2019)

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Lebanon honored at Food Expo 2019 in Greece

19-3-2019

The general director of the ministry of trade and economy, Alia Abbas, jointly with the Greek minister of rural development, inaugurated on Saturday the 3-day Food Expo 2019 in Greece. Lebanon was honored for the first time at one of most prestigious food fairs in south east Europe and one of the prominent platforms in the Mediterranean food and beverages sector. More than 11 Lebanese businesses were exhibiting at Lebanon’s pavilion which stretched on an area of 115 square meter, according to a statement by the Lebanese embassy in Athens. In cooperation with the Lebanese embassy in Greece, and within the economic diplomacy framework, the economy ministry seeks to increase the competitiveness of the Lebanese wines and food products and increase exports to the Greek, Mediterranean and European markets, the statement said. (Al Mustaqbal, March 19, 2019)
 

Previous related news: 
Lebanon showcases fruits in Germany and food in Beirut festival
Lebanese food diplomacy in Paris
Lebanon at Seoul 2018 Tourism and Culinary Festival

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Minister announces from Berlin a plan to boost tourism

15-3-2019

The minister of tourism Avedis Guidanian inaugurated on March 12th the Lebanese pavilion at the Moscow International Travel & Tourism Exhibition (MITT) which gathers around 54 countries and a large number of experts and professionals in the industry. On the sidelines of the event, a cooperation agreement was signed between Lebanon and Russia to organize tours between the two countries. Also, during his presence in Moscow, Guidanian met with the Cypriot minister of tourism and discussed ways to consolidate tourism relations. The minister also met with the head of the Federal Russian Agency for Tourism, and stressed Lebanon’s dependence on the Russian tourism market, expressing readiness on his part to facilitate the arrival of Russian tourists into the country. The tourism minister who also attended the 53rd edition of the World Tourism Exchange in Berlin on March 7, told reporters that Lebanon is qualified to attract tourists more than it currently accommodates. He declared his intention to launch a tourism plan this coming April that draws tourists from around the globe. In the same vein, An Nahar newspaper wrote on March 13, that after the decline in tourism activity for years, Lebanon seems to be just around the corner for the revival of the golden seasons of tourism seen in 2010. Then, the number of visitors reached a peak of 2,167,989 persons with a recorded revenue of USD 8.3 billion. The return of GCC tourists is also imminent this year, particularly Saudis, after their governments lifted the embargo on travelling to Lebanon. For his part, the head of the Tourism Committee at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) pressed for the development of the infrastructure and provision of competitive prices and tourism packages to maintain a sustainable tourism industry and touristic institutions. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, March 8, 13, 14, 2019)

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Entrepreneurship in Lebanon: innovation factory, national council

15-3-2019

Within the framework of efforts backing entrepreneurship in Lebanon, Berytech launched on March 11 the ‘Innovation Factory: From Research to Market’. It is a 6-month acceleration program for the transfer of technology that allows 8 teams to develop their technology research or innovation in any sector into practical and commercially viable end products and applications. The program gives candidates the opportunity to access local and global markets and business networks as well as a pool of experts, mentors and investors. On the same day, the minister of state for information technology and investment, Adel Afioni, sponsored the launch of the National Council for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (NCEI), pressing the need to bolster and modernize the sector to attract investments and generate employment prospects for young people. Afioni said that placing the knowledge-based economy at the core of the national economic plan is a positive indication for growth and for the creation of jobs especially for the youth. In the same vein, Al Akhbar newspaper in its issue of March 12, highlighted the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey for the year 2018/2019 which measures the attractiveness of the national entrepreneurial environment. According to the report, Lebanon ranked 35th out of 54 countries around the world, and fifth among 12 countries in the MENA region. The report also noted one of the salient indicators about the share of women in the "total early entrepreneurial activity" in Lebanon. It showed that women in the country are largely engaged in entrepreneurship reaching nearly 18%. For the full survey, kindly visit the following link: :https://goo.gl/bMPKBU. (Al Akhbar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, March 11, 12, 2019)

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