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Four Lebanese ministers present at Damascus International Fair 

7-9-2018

The ministers of industry, agriculture, tourism and public works were present at the Damascus International Fair which opened yesterday in its 60th edition until September 15. Ghazi Zeitar, agriculture minister, stressed, according to An Nahar, that the participation of the Lebanese ministers in the exhibition which is the largest economic, social, cultural and art event in Syria, was official and not in their personal capacity. The Lebanese pavilion hosted some 60 companies from the construction, industry, technology and engineering sectors. On the sideline of the opening event, industry minister Hussein Haj Hassan, met his Syrian counterpart, Samer Khalil, and discussed with him the border crossings. Khalil maintained that currently there is no reason to reopen Nassib Crossing on the borders with Jordan, based on a feasibility that showed no big value added to made-in-Syria products as a result of its restoration, maintaining that the subject needs further study. Haj Hassan, on the other hand, said the crossing is essential for Lebanese exporters and traders, regardless of their political views who want to see reconstruction in Syria, as well as Customs agents who have interest in activating transit transactions via the border crossings, noting that it was expected during the Fair to hold talks between the Lebanese and Syrian sides to reopen Naseeb crossing (c.f: https://bit.ly/2M8Nme0) . Meanwhile, a broad meeting was held between the four ministers, the secretary general of the Syrian Lebanese Higher Council, Nasri Khoury, and the Syrian internal trade minister, Abdallah Maghrebi, to discuss economic relations and ways to develop cooperation at all levels. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, September 7, 2018)
 

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President Aoun keen on securing jobs for graduates of technical schools

6-9-2018

President Michel Aoun said yesterday that he is very keen to secure jobs for graduates and students of vocational schools, considering it a priority to strengthen the production sectors in the country. Aoun was speaking during his meeting at Baabda Palace with a group of students who ranked first, second and third in the technical and professional education, (400 students). Aoun also emphasized the need to boost and empower vocational education in order to contribute to 70% of public education, given the ample prospects available to its graduates. Concurrently, the US Embassy in Lebanon jointly with LAU and AUB celebrated the admission of a new batch of students under Tomorrow’s Leaders Program sponsored by the US-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). On the occasion, the representative of the Embassy said in her address to the students, “We look to you as a force of change in your communities.” To note, the total number of students beneficiaries from the US-funded program that provided free college education, has reached some 369 students since 10 years. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, September 6, 2018)

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BIFF postponed because of sluggish economic situation

6-9-2018

The Beirut International Film Festival (BIFF) announced yesterday that its 2018 edition will be postponed for several months due to the precarious economic conditions in the country as well as the growing political and regional insecurities. The BIFF said the decision was taken after deep reflection and will resume hopefully the beginning of 2019 to shed light on Beirut and Lebanon as always. Despite this postponement, the BIFF statement said, this year carries a rich and wide collection of activities, movies and events, notably the partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) which organizes the OSCARS, pointing to a special program partnering with AMPAS entitled ‘Cinematographers, Directors and Film Editors: The Art of Visual Storytelling’. The statement also mentioned AMPAS’ partnerships with other international festivals to implement said program and that it has chosen BIFF from the Middle East and North Africa. To note, the BIFF is officially funded by private bodies, while the government contributes to a slight share through the ministries of tourism and culture. (An Nahar, September 6, 2018)

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Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to discuss the opening of the Nassib Crossing during Damascus Fair

5-9-2018

The Lebanese industry minister, Hussein Haj Hassan arrived in Damascus yesterday to attend the Damascus International Fair 2018 (DIF) at the invitation of his Syrian counterpart, Mohamad Samer Khalil, An Nahar daily reported. The exhibition in its 60th edition opens tomorrow, September 6 with an Arab and international presence. Haj Hassan is expected to inaugurate the Lebanese pavilion which hosts some 56 companies and factories and around 15 media and advertising firms. An Nahar said that the agriculture minister Ghazi Zeiater is expected to arrive in the Syrian capital later today. Meanwhile, Al Hayat newspaper wrote that while the president of the Lebanese Chambers, Mohamad Choucair, did not receive any invitation from the management of the Lebanese section to visit the exhibition, he hesitated to admit that the Chambers received the invitation but that he personally will not attend attributing this to political reasons and not to a government decision to boycott the event. On the other hand, Al Hayat reported that a Jordanian economic delegation from the commercial, industrial and services sectors has arrived in Damascus yesterday in an official visit called on by the Federation of Syrian Chambers in preparation for the international fair. The newspaper said that both sides will discuss developing trade exchange between the two countries and removing obstacles to the reopening of the Nassib border crossing. The Lebanese officials in turn, are expected to discuss with their Syrian counterparts strengthening economic and trade relations, and more particularly the reopening of the Nassib crossing, according to An Nahar, which said that Syrians believe that the reopening of the crossing, which has long facilitated the entry of Lebanese exports into Jordan, is principally a political matter. The president of the Union of Mediterranean Confederation of Businessmen, chief of industrialists, Jacques Sarraf, pointed out that negotiations between the Lebanese and Syrian officials are essential due to the vitality of the Crossing, stressing that the issue is not limited to the two countries, but involves Jordan as well, which should approve its reopening. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, Al Hayat, August 29, September 5, 2018)

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Minister Zeiater promises to restore banana exports to Syria

5-9-2018

After a delegation of South banana farmers urged Hizbullah-led bloc MP Nawwaf Mousawi to ask Hizbullah head Nasrallah to intervene in order to remove obstacles impeding the entry of their products to Syria (c.f: https://goo.gl/4EExaW) , Mousawi contacted on Monday the minister of agriculture in the caretaker government Ghazi Zeiater and discussed with him the crisis. He raised the problem of marketing Lebanese bananas to Arab countries due to the continuing closure of the border crossing via neighboring Syria because of lack of coordination between the two governments. Zeiater promised to discuss the matter with Syrian officials during his expected visit to Damascus. Concerning the opening of Nassib Crossing, Zeiater and Mousawi stressed that the Syrian government is awaiting the Lebanese side to raise the issue in order to reach a convenient solution as soon as possible given the fact that the agricultural season has already started. (Al Diyar 4 September 2018)

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Local development of Arkoob

4-9-2018

In coordination with the Union of Arkoob Municipalities, IDAL and UNDP, Tamadun association organized on Saturday a workshop in Ibel al Saki, Marje3yoon, under the title, ‘Development in Arkoob… Problems and Solutions’. The workshop, according to the president of Tamadun, Ziad Daher, aims to reach a plan that includes drawing a development roadmap, in addition to identifying the priorities of proposed projects. The following recommendations were issued at the end of the workshop: 1) The development of road network connecting the villages and the environs, 2) stepping up the completion of the sewage system, 3) establishing a vocational school specialized mainly with agriculture, as well as a branch for the Lebanese University, 4) preservation of the agricultural sector, 5) implementation of the Cluster Development program launched by IDAL for the creation of dried fruit and nuts processing business, 6) preservation and maintenance of archeological sites and activation of religious tourism, 7) finding a solution for the random dump sites and landfills, 8) the launch of alternative and renewable energy production systems, 9) support for touristic festivals and events, 10) investment in the environmental resources, including the production of olives, olive oil and the construction of a specialized factory to this end, 11) the activation of eco-tourism, 12) the development of a field survey for the villages within the Union, 13) placing the area on the public transportation map, and finally 14), the launch of the Development Gathering for Arkoob to follow up above recommendations. (Al Mustaqbal, September 4, 2018)

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Vatican places Lebanon on global tourism map

4-9-2018

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper drew attention to the Vatican Initiative aimed to restore Lebanon as a main destination for global religious tourism, pointing to the careless attitude of the Lebanese government towards this type of tourism. To note, the Lebanese Charge d’Affaires to the Vatican, Ambassador Khalil Karam, has notified official circles of the Vatican’s decision to place Lebanon back on the list of pilgrimage destinations issued annually by the Holy See, beginning 2019, after 12 years of absence. The list, to recall, is used as a reference by thousands of pilgrims around the world. On the subject, the head of the Catholic Information Center, Father Abdo Abu Kassem, explained that the Vatican’s new initiative maintains that Lebanon is a safe country, and therefore tourists can be reassured to visit. “Should we exclude religious tourism, what remains of this sector?” Abu Kassem said, pointing to the archeological sites and ruins that suffer from neglect as well as from poor maintenance and infrastructure. In turn, George Arab, the director of the Comprehensive Cultural Survey for the Heritage of the Holy Valley of Qanubin, pointed out that the major part of what is being achieved in the field of religious (mainly Christian) tourism in the country is the outcome of efforts by the Church, as the government is completely negligent. Also, university professor in religious tourism and anthropology, Dr. Nour Farra Haddad, noted sarcastically that in February, the foreign and tourism ministers Jibran Bassil and Avidis Guidanian, have announced the year 2018 as the year for religious tourism, but this never went anywhere. Haddad said that this past June she launched the Holy Lebanon website, the first electronic portal for religious tourism in Lebanon. She revealed that the tourism ministry during the term of minister Michel Pharaon has asked her to work on the project, but has not provided any technical or financial support to this effect, not even the current ministry. (Al Akhbar, September 4, 2018)

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President Aoun promises to work on reopening border crossings for Lebanese exports

3-9-2018

President Michel Aoun stressed that the interests of the Lebanese is an utmost priority, promising to continue negotiations to ensure the restoration of exports by land to Arab countries. Aoun was speaking on August 31st during his meeting with a delegation of the Importers and Exporters of Vegetables and Fruits in Lebanon Syndicate who came to express their anguish and suffering as a result of the closing of the border crossing with Syria. The head of the Syndicate, Saleh Khalil, supported Aoun’s stance and efforts to reopen Nassib Crossing, as well as the Tanaf and Bu Kamal crossings between Syria and Iraq. In turn, the head of the Beqaa Farmers Association, Ibrahim Tarshishi, warned it is unacceptable to keep Nassib closed in the face of made-in-Lebanon goods destined to Arab countries. In the same context, a delegation of the Banana Farmers in the South visited Hizbullah led bloc MP, Nawaf Mousawi, in Tyre to ask Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah to mediate in order to remove obstacles impeding the entry of their products to neighboring Syria. Mousawi clarified that while there are regional political reasons preventing some officials from seeking to restore relations with Syria that will positively impact the lives of the Lebanese, other officials have no objection. He suggested in this respect that the Lebanese foreign minister visits his Syrian counterpart to discuss bilateral cooperation to ensure a legal and political framework in light of which concerned ministers, in the field of agriculture or industry could act. (Al Diyar, September 1, 3, 2018)

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Saida and Bkassine festivals close, events kick off in Shuf

3-9-2018

Bkassine, Jezzine, concluded last Saturday its summer festivities with a musical concert celebrating the third annual festival held in the town, which recalling, has also won the ‘favorite village’ competition for 2018 organized by L’Orient Le Jour (c.f: https://bit.ly/2PWqJNj). Saida, for its part, ended its summer festivals on Sunday with four consecutive musical nights. Meanwhile, MP Farid Bustani launched the tourism season in the Shuf with the presence of the president of owners of travel agencies and concerned bodies in the area. Boustani, on the occasion, underlined the importance of developing tourism in the villages and towns of Shuf, promising to turn the area into one of the top internal tourism destinations in the country. He disclosed that he will submit a draft bill to parliament next week to set up a fund for the development of the Shuf area, similar to funds allocated to the South and Beqaa regions. In the same vein, PlayBack weddings & events hosted its Food Expo 2018 at Rashid Karami International Fair under the patronage of tourism minister in the caretaker government, Avedis Guidanian. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, August 30, 31, September 1, 3, 2018)

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Lebanon at Seoul 2018 Tourism and Culinary Festival

3-9-2018

The Lebanese Embassy in South Korea was present last Saturday at the Seoul 2018 Tourism and Cuisine Festival organized by the Municipality of Seoul. The Lebanese pavilion was devoted to showcase traditional handicrafts and distribute flyers about tourism in Lebanon. This year’s exhibition aims to introduce international cuisine to the Korean community with the participation of some 80 countries from around the world and an estimated 150,000 visitors. The Lebanese pavilion had a remarkable presence, with a Phoenician spirit, displaying statues of Phoenician sailors of various sizes, in addition to paintings engraved with the Phoenician alphabet and models of ships built by Phoenicians. To note, that the Lebanese embassy is taking part in various activities throughout September aimed to provide courses in traditional Lebanese cuisine by the embassy chef to his Korean peers in order to familiarize them with Lebanese cooking. These activities are part of efforts by the embassy and the Lebanese foreign ministry to promote made-in-Lebanon products of olive oil, wine and agri-food products, in the framework of minister Jibran Bassil’s initiative ‘Tasty Lebanon’. (Al Diyar, September 3, 2018)

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