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Arab StarPack Pro. launched in Beirut

17-1-2019

In collaboration with the Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization (AIDMO), the Arab Union for Food Industries (UAFI) and the Union of Arab Chambers, the Arab Union for the Paper Industries held a press conference yesterday to launch the Arab StarPack Pro. Noting, that the competition is organized by UNIDO and Liban Pak with the support of the International Packaging Organization (WPO) and the Lebanese ministry of industry. The event comes as part of the Arab Private Sector Forum within the activities of the 4th session of the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit, to be held in Beirut on Sunday. On the occasion, Liban Pak director said the competition aims to raise awareness and motivation of employees in small and medium Arab enterprises (SMEs) about the importance of skills development in the packaging sector to achieve greater successes in marketing and exporting across various industrial arenas. For his part, the head of UAFI underlined the role of packaging based on two main factors: the first is technical, as it defines the distinctive features of the product to make it appealing to consumers, and the second focuses on the preservation of the product so as to reach customers properly. The latter is especially true about food products. (Al Mustaqbal, January 17, 2019)

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Bankmed financially supports seven associations

11-1-2019

Bankmed released its gift exchange program at the end of each year to 7 Lebanese associations, in the form of USD 30,000 for each, USD 210,000 in total. The bank announcement stated that this step is in line with Bankmed’s community support principles within the framework of its CSR initiatives focusing on health and social programs. The beneficiaries are associations distributed across Lebanon whose goal is to address social, health, educational and even cultural challenges and problems through provision of necessary aid to underprivileged households, orphans and elderly communities, in addition to empowering women and persons with special needs. The targeted associations are: Orphan Welfare Society- Saida, Dar al Ajaza al Islamia, Ajialouna, Oum el Nour, Mar Mansour Association, Ahlouna Association and Institut de Reeducation Audio-Phonetique (IRAP). (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, January 11, 2019)

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SmartEx 2019 in Beirut next April

11-1-2019

The organizers of the leading international technology exhibition, SmartEx, announced on Tuesday that the upcoming 2019 event will be held on April 10 until April 13 and is expected to deliver a bigger and better innovative platform for the IT industry in the region. SmartEx comprises hundreds of international and local brands representing different aspects of the technology sector, including, security, administrative information systems, automation, retail e-commerce, communications, accounting technology, education technology and many others. On the sideline, the exhibition will host several free educational workshops and seminars. Jason Rizk, the executive director of MICE Lebanon explained that the vision of the organizing firm is to re-establish Lebanon as a technology hub in the region through SmartEx. Year after year, he said, the expo provides an annual meeting venue for the industry and professionals allowing them to exchange ideas and learn about the state-of-the-art trends in the sector. (Al Mustaqbal, January 9, 2019)

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Mango shipment seized at Beirut Airport

10-1-2019

As part of the food safety campaign, the minister of agriculture in the caretaker government, Ghazi Zeiater, announced yesterday that mangos coming from Ghana and infested with insects were seized at Beirut International Airport. Zeiater pointed out that the insect, which can only be detected after opening the fruit, is not harmful but can infest other crops. Zeiater pressed for collaboration between the various concerned departments, including the customs and the health ministry quarantine, stressing that the shipment will be returned to Ghana. It is a matter of ethics, he said, warning, “We don’t want people to bring the dirt of the world here.” Imports are processed in accordance with plant health inspection standards and certifications from the country of origin, the minister maintained. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, January 10, 2019)

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‘Your small project’ in Tripoli

10-1-2019

In collaboration with the Arab Planning Institute (API) and Dar al Ilm lil Malayeen, Al Azm wal Saade Association organized yesterday a series of training activities in Tripoli, entitled, ‘Your project: from idea to planning’. Lecturing at the workshop, were API director for SMEs, Ihab Moukabala, and the former Egyptian minister of planning, Ashraf Arabi. The workshop addressed several topics, notably: entrepreneurship, innovation and small enterprises in terms of concept, characteristics, significance, course of action and resources of innovation from the idea to the market, in addition to an introduction to small enterprises and the differences of terminology and definitions involved. Lecturers also outlined the course of development of a small enterprise from an idea to implementation and the various obstacles it encounters as well as ways to overcome them, up to the marketing and end product phases. In conclusion, the presenters stressed the importance of entrepreneurship in today’s world, as compared to the routine life of a job, pressing for a sound and healthy environment for the growth of startups. (Al Diyar, January 10, 2019)

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USAID funding for NGO networks in Tripoli and Saida

9-1-2019

USAID announced in a statement yesterday that it is providing grants for Tripoli and Saida. Palladium, the statement said, is seeking grant applications from local NGOs for the implementation of the Livelihood Improvement component in the framework of the Inclusive Finance Expansion USAID-funded LIFE project launched last year (c.f: https://bit.ly/2FiiYiy). LIFE, the statement added, will use grants to promote the creation of recovery networks in vulnerable areas around Tripoli in North Lebanon or around Saida in the South with the aim to achieve the greatest possible impact. Such networks, where several partners are involved to improve the livelihoods in a single area with its underserved communities, will build a more productive entrepreneurship environment. “We expect NGOs that received grants to liaise and coordinate with municipalities and other economic growth initiatives funded by the agency and implemented in the same areas,” the agency explained. Applications will be received until January 27, 2019. Full details can be obtained through the following email: ApplyLebanon@thepalladiumgroup.com. (Annahar 9 January 2019)
 
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Legalization of cannabis in Lebanon faces hurdles

8-1-2019

In a special feature on January 5, Al Akhbar recapped the latest developments on the legalization of cannabis in Lebanon. The newspaper reminded its readers about the debate last July by the sub-committee assigned to draft a bill to this end, especially after the release of the McKinsey report which considered that legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes will boost the economy and bring in roughly USD one billion to the treasury. Al Akhbar wrote that, in the craze for the promised legalization, two draft laws resurfaced, that were submitted respectively by the Lebanese Forces and the Liberation and Development Blocs, pointing to a third one underway prepared by pharmaceutical companies. However, none of the said laws will be ratified, according to members of the above sub-committee. In its analysis, the newspaper mentioned that one of the factors is linked to internal obstacles, and the second to studies which have found that there are no favorable conditions for its implementation in proposed areas. Al Akhbar went on to say, that in light of previous field surveys, while cannabis grown here are meant for human consumption rather than for medicinal uses, the proposed type is overpriced. On the farmers’ front, Al Akhbar said that laws and types of cannabis are of no interest to them, but what really concerns them is the quota and the quantity, pointing out that the enforcement of the quota on the supplies to be delivered to the government reduces their profits. They fear that they might have to repeatedly face the experience with the Regie, the exclusive distributor of tobacco locally, the newspaper wrote, pointing to the favoritism in the delivery of licenses and the poor prices. Citing members of the above committee, Al Akhbar said, in light of the inability of the government to control this agriculture and prevent its exploitation by big mafia bosses, there are fears that the Lebanese society could become a marijuana user society. What is needed, the newspaper concluded, is the conduction of a comprehensive feasibility study, otherwise, no future for cannabis in this country. (The article is found in Arabic on the following link: https://bit.ly/2ReXSYH)

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Prospects for mushroom growing in Lebanon

4-1-2019

In its issue of today, L’Orient Le jour devoted an article on the cultivation of mushroom in Lebanon which is still untapped. The newspaper spotlighted efforts by Sandra Sleiman, who is writing her Master’s dissertation on natural resources management at the Lebanese University on the different varieties of mushrooms grown locally. On the subject, Sleiman explained that the country lacks specialists and laboratories to determine the types of the crop that are edible, mentioning a Facebook page created by LU assistant professor, Jean Estephan, named Lebanon Flora. The site, which is in part devoted to picking mushrooms and the kinds of plants grown in Lebanon, has a wide visibility, especially from experts from Canada, Romania, Portugal and France, according to Sleiman. The latter pointed out that visitors to the page post images of mushrooms to learn whether they are eatable. She noted the growing interest in the crop which is increasingly used in many local dishes and recipes, particularly this year, especially that abundant rainfall encourages mushrooms to sprout everywhere. Sleiman said that while Syrian refugees are largely involved in picking wild mushrooms, many households have been poisoned for eating the inedible types. Due to the risks associated with picking mushrooms, and given the absence of specialized labs, Sleiman said she sent specimens of the crop to a French laboratory in Montpelier and is waiting for the results which hopefully will be taught at schools. (L’Orient Le Jour, January 4, 2019)

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Southern farmers for the construction of irrigation dams

3-1-2019

During his tour on December 29 to the Litani River in Qassmiyeh, Tyre, the head of South Lebanon Farmers, Mohamad Husseini, demanded the government to build dams for harvesting rainwater to prevent it from being drained into the sea. Unfortunately, Lebanon, the country of natural springs which fills the rivers and groundwater during the winter season, does not value or profit from this blessing, Husseini lamented. He repeatedly pressed for the creation of dams in the Southern area of Kfarsir area based on studies which revealed a need for irrigating irrigation the plantations and orchards in the Litani’s Lower Basin. Husseini appealed to all concerned parties to support the National Authority of the Litani River in reducing the damage due to industrial waste products discharged into the river by nearby factories, as well as, removing the encroachments on the irrigation project canal in the coastal area. Husseini also revealed all kinds of river pollutants in the wintertime caused by random landfills in the valleys, namely in the region sitting on the banks of the Litani, from West Beqaa up to the mouth of the river in Qassmiyeh, in the South. (Al Diyar, December 30, 2018)

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Hospital returns the body of a baby in a cardboard others withhold services to a Palestinian child

2-1-2019

Palestinian protests continued against the death last December of the Palestinian child, Muhamad Wehbeh, at the hospital’s entrance (c.f: https://lkdg.org/ar/node/18076). To this effect, shop owners in the Upper Street inside Ain Hilweh refugee camp in Saida staged a strike on December 19 called on by Hay al Tiri Committee in solidarity with the child’s parents. Similarly, the different Palestinian political parties and the popular committee asked Lebanese authorities to launch an investigation into the tragic incident to hold accountable any person found responsible. They also demanded the UNRWA to increase the hospitalization coverage and the number of hospital inpatient beds for emergency and chronic cases, as well as improve the quality of medical services provided to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Meanwhile, on December 21st, news surfaced on social media reporting that the family of the child who died in one of the Lebanese hospitals has received his body in a carton because they could not afford to keep it in the morgue. To inquire on the subject, Al Jadid TV station contacted the child’s father who denied all the news on social media networks, voicing his resentment over the inconsiderate publishing of the pictures of his dead girl. “The hospital’s treatment, which was at the expense of the MoPH, was good,” he said. The concerned hospital, in turn, explained that the inability of the parents of the dead child to pay for the coffin, forces similar institutions to do the same.”(Al Mustaqbal, December 20, 21, 24, 2018)
 

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