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CERD questions Lebanon's global ranking in education

2-10-2018

The Center for Educational Research and Development (CERD) voiced reservation over the findings of the World Economic Forum’s 2018 which put Lebanon first among Arab countries and fourth globally in the quality of science and math education which covered 137 countries(c.f: http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/17773). CERD argued that the results contradicted with results of the national and international studies on the quality of education and learners’ performance. It attributed its reservations to many reasons, firstly, the selection of the sample which covered only 87 Lebanese business owners, which understandably don’t represent the Lebanese reality; secondly, the survey questions were not inclusive of all the segments of Lebanese society in terms of quantity and quality, and lastly, in terms of the diversity of data. CERD also made a point that the survey by-passed it as a key player and therefore as a potential respondent. The Center also maintained that some parties used the result to pass over the loopholes and points of weakness, pointing to Lebanon’s 25th place among 42 countries in the TIMSS exams in terms of learners’ performance which, it contended, was below average. (The CERD explanatory statement in Arabic is found on the following link: https://www.crdp.org/news-details/26178/ar)

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Two competitions to support startups and entrepreneurship in Lebanon

2-10-2018

The MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab (MITEF) announced in a Beirut press conference on September 27 the launch of the 12th edition of Arab Startup Competition and called contestants to register on its official website until December 10, 2018. The MITEF is an annual competition supporting Arab startups and entrepreneurs through the provision of an avenue to exhibit and apply their ideas. Since its onset in 2006, the competition has trained more than 2300 entrepreneurs, received over 40,000 applications and given a total of USD 80,000 in free investments. On the other hand, Total Group will reportedly hold its first ever Lebanon press conference on October 9 to launch the Total Startupper of the Year at Villa Sursock. The Total Challenge, to recall, kicked off in 2015 with the aim to discover innovative entrepreneurs and business owners and prop up the best projects in the field of establishment or development of enterprises during the various stages. (An Nahar, Al Akhbar, October 2, 2018)

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Nassib crossing between Syria and Jordan is set to work

1-10-2018

The Syrian ministry of transportation declared on September 29 that the logistic preparations on the Nassib Crossing with Jordan are now complete and the crossing, which is a vital artery for neighboring countries, will reopen on October 10th and will start receiving truck and transit traffic. However, the Jordanian government spokesperson, Joumana Ghuneimat, denied the Syrian assertion, noting that the technical committees have not completed their work yet. Recalling, the Jordanian daily Al Ghad, citing informed Jordanian sources on September 25, said the crossing would be officially restored during the first half of October. On the delay, An Nahar newspaper cited Russia Today as saying, the announcement of the opening was a Syrian statement that the crossing is geared up from the Syrian side. It came under pressure of the consistent bilateral talks to step up the opening, An Nahar wrote. Jordan maintained that the disputed point which delayed the reopening is a decision by Damascus based on the principle of reciprocity under a decree which requires the increase of transit and shipping tariffs, An Nahar added. Regarding ongoing meetings between the Lebanese and Syrian officials on mutual exchange of agricultural products, the Lebanese minister of agriculture, Ghazi Zeiater, met let week in Damascus with the Syrian minister of interior trade, Abdallah Gharbi. Discussions focused on strengthening economic cooperation and increasing the exchange of goods between both countries according to the Brotherhood, Cooperation and Coordination Agreement signed between the two states. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, September 27, 28, 30, October 1, 2018)

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Promoting local tourism in Lebanon

1-10-2018

In the framework of efforts to support tourism in the country, the minister of tourism in the caretaker government, Avedis Guidanian, Beirut governor, Ziad Shebib, and the President of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Toni Rami, jointly inaugurated on Friday the third edition of the Beirut Restaurants Festival organized by the Syndicate and Hospitality Services. The 3-day event, held at the Trainstation in Mar Mikhael neighborhood of Beirut, attracted more than 15,000 visitors who flocked to sample the rich assortment showcased at the various participating stalls and food carts. On the other hand, the municipality of Kosta launched the first of its kind initiative extended to the southern capital, Saida, under the slogan, ‘Don’t let things get worse… hit the market’. The activity organized in cooperation with the municipality of Saida and Saida Traders’ Association, seeks to encourage area residents to go shopping and stroll the city’s commercial district on Saturday eve. The owners of local shops and stores welcomed the move hoping it will be repeated occasionally due to the need for similar initiatives. Also, the fourth Arab Forum for Youth and Cultural Tourism in Lebanon announced on Saturday the city of Baalbaq the capital of Arab cultural and youth tourism for 2018. The ceremony was organized by the Lebanese Youth Hostel Federation in partnership with the municipality of Baalbaq. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, September 30, October 1, 2018)

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Local cooperation in North Metn to create jobs for the youth

28-9-2018

As part of its efforts to support and provide jobs for youth in the private and public sectors, the president of the Christian NGO for employment, Labora, Father Toni Khadra, signed yesterday a protocol of cooperation with the Union of Municipalities of North Metn represented by its president, Raymond Semaan. Present were also the mayors of Hazmieh Jean Asmar, Chiyah Edmond Ghariyus and Araya, Pierre Bejani, whose municipalities are part of the Union. The protocol aims to create a link between local development offices and Labora. The latter, to recall, seeks to afford employment opportunities for young people with the diverse capacities and professional skills they boast; meet the needs of establishments, institutions and factories located within the area of the Union; encourage youth to access public sector jobs and provide the necessary training prior to entrance examinations; enhance the employment capacities of young people and equip them with the professional, educational and applied skills and expertise and finally, highlight the labor market requirements and outcomes to help students in their choice of the academic majors mostly wanted by local companies and markets. (Al Diyar, September 28, 2018)

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Multilateral cooperation on youth entrepreneurship and innovation

26-9-2018

Within the framework of efforts to support entrepreneurship in Lebanon, the Order of Engineers and Architects launched yesterday the Young Engineers Forum 2018 under the theme: ‘Entrepreneurship: The engine of socioeconomic transformation’. During the event, organized in collaboration with Rural Entrepreneurs and Tatweer Baladna association, the president of the Order Jad Tabet, said ambitious entrepreneurs all over the Arab region and in Lebanon particularly, face many social and economic obstacles. “We must work hard to achieve a qualitative leap in all areas in order to create new prospects that encourage the youth to set off their entrepreneurial ventures,” Tabet said. He explained that the stifling socio-economic crisis engulfing Lebanon, coupled with the slump in jobs in the Arab labor market and the sweeping unemployment among the young people, necessitate the adoption of public policies that target SMEs. On the other hand, the Lebanese University (LU) and RDCL World signed on Monday a cooperation agreement aimed at supporting LU and promoting participation in projects to strengthen relations between universities and institutions in terms of labor market requirements, enhance the innovative abilities and skills of students, provide access to students and professors to visit small and large enterprises in Lebanon and the region and finally, train students to work in the Lebanese private sector establishments. (Al Mustaqbal, AL Diyar, Setember 25, 26, 2018)

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Reed basket weaving in Ser3el threatened with extinction

25-9-2018

Al Diyar newspaper featured today the rare popular craft of reed basket and rug weaving that has been passed from one generation to another but that is being forced into extinction due to a decline in demand. On the subject, Al Diyar spoke to Souad Abi Mansour, 76, from Ser’ul village in Zgharta who still holds to this craftsmanship which she inherited from her father. Mansour said her husband and she now depend on this craft for living and educating her children at the best schools and universities. Abu Charbel, from the same village, has worked in this craft for nearly 45 years, he told Al Diyar’s reporter. In the past, he lamented, demand was higher for reed baskets, but today with the widespread use of plastic, it receded and faded. Gerges, in turn, explained that the craft requires considerable time and hard work compared to the low proceeds. Ser’ul inhabitants grieved to Al Diyar that most of the young people refuse to take this profession, demanding the government to revive the artisan sector in the country. (Al Diyar, September 25, 2019)

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McKinsey Plan for Lebanon: endorse agriculture, legalize cannabis

24-9-2018

The president of the Lebanese Exhibitions & Conferences Association, Elie Rizk, said that the support to the local agriculture sector proposed by the global consulting firm McKinsey & Company Plan for Lebanon’s economy, is a valid, objective and feasible demand if the recommended package of reforms is implemented. These involve first: Reduce the cost of production through benefiting from international organizations, grants and funds to finance raw material; second, improve the quality of prodution through training farmers to develop and enhance their products, and lastly, dispose of produce through skilled production companies that sort, package and market the produce. An Nahar referred to legalizing the cultivation of cannabis indorsed by McKinsey to prop up the general budget and alleviate the fiscal deficit. It cited the trade minister, Raed Khoury, who praised the good quality of marijuana planted in Lebanon which could be used in processing the high in demand and expensive cannabis oil. The newspaper, on the other hand, wrote that Hizbullah seeks to avoid publicly backing the legalization of the crop in an area that is considered one of its main strongholds, claiming that the party’s repute in the past few years involving the manufacture and trafficking in drugs, does not seem to be assuring. The newspaper concluded by wondering if the anticipated legalization will serve the country’s budget or Hizbullah. On the farmers’ front, and on behalf of the heads of agricultural coops, mayors and the committee for the follow up of support to the olive oil in Marjeyoon and Hasbaya, the chief of the Union of Municipalities of Hasbani asked the Prime Minister and House Speaker to subsidize olive oil by pricing each container at USD 50 as agreed in the budget of 2017. Regarding the developments on the Nassib Crossing, the director general of the General Security, Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim set off an initiative last weekend to reopen the border crossing. He disclosed during a meeting on Saturday with Lebanese agricultural unions and exporters that the talks he held with Jordan’s King on the one hand, and the Syrian authorities on the other, could ease the border impasse. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, An Nahar, September, 20, 22, 24, 2018)

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Syria raises transit fees, impasse of banana exports to ease

21-9-2018

After the reported progress in reopening of Nassib Crossing, (https://goo.gl/ce1PMg), the Lebanese minister of agriculture, Ghazi Zeiater, revealed to An Nahar that Lebanon conveyed to the Syrian side, during recent meetings, its wish to speed up the process, pointing out that the decision largely depends on the outcome of the Jordanian Syrian talks. As to the decision by the Syrian ministry of transportation to increase the transit fees for the empty and loaded Syrian, Arab and foreign trailers crossing the Syrian territory, Zeiater clarified that Lebanon has not yet been officially notified of the said decision. To note, the Syrian transportation ministry recently described the decision to raise the transit fees as “strategic and essential” as it will ensure sustained competition with neighboring sea ports and higher profitability and revenues. For his part, the head of the Beqaa Farmers Association, Ibrahim Tarshishi, considered that such decision would have no impact on Lebanon because the Syrian conflict has led to the closure of most of the border crossings preventing trucks coming from Lebanon to enter Syria or other Arab countries via Syrian territory. On the problem of banana exports to Syria, and the promises by Zeiater to resolve the problem, the minister disclosed that meetings will be held at end of September between all concerned parties to discuss the matter and agree mechanisms for resuming exports. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, September 20, 2018)

Previous related news:
Progress towards reopening of vital Nassib trade crossing
Minister Zeiater promises to restore banana exports to Syria

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Unemployment in Lebanon reaches alarming levels

21-9-2018

In its issue of September 19, Al Diyar newspaper highlighted the alarming rates of unemployment in Lebanon which have crossed the redline and have come to a dead end. The ambition of young people, the newspaper wrote, ends the moment they receive their university degree, where, after years of hard work and studying, they end up jobless and their college diplomas displayed as wallpapers. Al Diyar said the government is primarily responsible for unemployment in the absence of a ministry for planning, in addition to universities and higher education institutions that are unaware of labor market requirements and outcomes. The wasta (connections and nepotism) play a part in hiring, the newspaper said, pointing out that he/she who gets a wasta is employed. In figures, Al Diyar noted an increase in the rate of unemployment which stood roughly at 36%, meaning there are around 660,000 jobless persons in the country. It drew attention to a 40% rise in the rate of unemployment among youth aged between 21 and 27 years, while noting that 25,000 persons who graduate every year require 6-fold increase in the number of existing jobs. The high rate of unemployment is driving graduates to emigrate, the newspaper reported, citing surveys which showed that 43% of young immigrants are university graduates (18-35 years), including 37% who are graduates in engineering, technology and sciences, 30% in administration and services and 13% in medicine. (Al Diyar, September 19, 2018)

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