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Food pressing unit in Batroon and VT graduates in hospitality in Anfeh

23-4-2018

As part of ‘Enhancing CSOs in the North and Akkar for Sustainable Development’ project funded by the EU, and in collaboration with the municipality of Ajdabra and Mar Saba Monastery, the Star of Peace association and Rene Mouawad Foundation (RMF) in Batroon, North Lebanon, celebrated the completion of Al Salam Facility for Natural Food Processing. On the occasion, Star of Peace director, Father Charbel Khashan, said the facility is more than a place for food processing, “it is an added value for our region, as it touches manifold levels of development, including the spiritual, agricultural, economic, health, touristic and environmental aspects,” as he put it. Khashan revealed that his association seeks to turn the facility into a venue for training and education, with the aim to produce not only agri-food goods, but also to bring about progressive mentalities. On the same day, the Municipality of Anfeh in the North, distributed certificates for beneficiaries who completed training workshops within the INTAJ program funded by the UK government and Mercy Corps in partnership with IMPACT PMC consulting agency. The program director, Wahid Nakhul, stressed the importance of the project in the evolution and development of notions and skills of young people in customer management, catering, protection and security. (AL Mustaqbal, April 23, 2018)

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2018Q1: ESFD creates 131 jobs

20-4-2018

The Economic and Social Development Fund (ESFD) disclosed yesterday that, during the first quarter of 2018 and under the ‘Job Creation’ component, it has financed 114 private projects of a total value of L.L 2.8 billion and generated some 131 new jobs. ESFD pointed out that the number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) financed by the Fund since its inception in 2003 until March of this year, has amounted to 10043 credits with a total value of L.L 186.3 billion, resulting in the creation of around 8467 new jobs. To recall, the ESFD was formed within the framework of European-Mediterranean Partnership and through a financing agreement signed in November 2000 between the Lebanese government represented by the Council for Development and Reconstruction and the EU. It aims to fight poverty and alleviate its impact on impoverished communities. (Al Mustaqbal, April 20, 2018)

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FabricAID wins first prize in world entrepreneurship competition

20-4-2018

The Lebanese second hand clothing supplier, FabricAID won the first prize of USD 40 thousand in the Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC) from some 550 participating startups representing 60 countries. FabricAID began its journey from Beirut where it came first in a local competition organized by Berytech-GSVC this past February. Co-founder, Omar Itani, then joined 19 finalists shortlisted from 9 regional competitions to participate in the final competition in Italy on April 12 and bring back the first prize. In addition to the cash reward, FabricAID received mentoring, exposure, world recognition and access to an international support network through Berytech and the Lebanese entrepreneurship community. To note, FabricAID offers underprivileged people good quality clothing at affordable prices with the aim to help Lebanon reach zero fabric waste through maximizing the efficiency, sorting and distribution of second hand wear. It benefitted more than 1700 persons last year. (Al Mustaqbal, April 20, 2018)

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Superficial projects to address deep-rooted unemployment!

19-4-2018

In their attempts to alleviate unemployment, the ministry of social affairs (MoSA), the labor ministry and the UNDP launched yesterday the so-called ‘Employment Intensive and Infrastructure in Lebanon’ Program funded by the German Government and implemented by the German Development Bank (KFW). MoSA minister, Pierre Bu Assi, pointed out that the initiative aims to create jobs and meet the needs of the labor market. For her part, the ILO Regional Office for Arab States Director, Ruba Jaradat, disclosed that the program at its current stage includes 10 undertakings executed in a number of Lebanese areas, namely Tripoli, Hammana and Tal Abbas. She anticipated the program to generate some 95,800 workings days and recruit around 2400 workers towards the end of this phase. On the same day, the Department of Professional Integration at USJ university kicked off its annual Job Fair at the Innovation and Sports Campus, with the participation of hospitals, banks, insurance companies, industrial establishments, NGOs and public institutions who laid out their vacancies to students. The event also included activities that promoted professional networking. On the other hand, Al Midan association launched its ‘Educate to Employ’ initiative which is dubbed as the link between education and recruitment in Lebanon for it aims to cut the high rates of joblessness among young people and empower them with the required skills, according to its director, Rima Franjieh. (Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, April 19, 2018)

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Lebanese invade Turkey for shopping

18-4-2018

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper drew attention to the phenomenon of the Lebanese invasion of Turkish markets for shopping rather than encouraging Lebanese production. The reason, Al Akhbar wrote, is the relative low prices Turkish goods boast compared to Lebanon and that is for a number of factors: The considerable government support to the extensive domestic production; the self-sufficient economy and synchronized economic cycle which does not rely on import; the protectionist system that seeks to prevent the entry of products that are produced locally; the state-of-the-art production machinery; the hydroelectric industrial cities and finally, the relatively-cheap and specialized labor power. On the subject, Naji Mozannar, the secretary general of the Syndicate of Lebanese Textiles Manufacturers, said one of the reasons behind the drop of prices of Turkish merchandise is the Customs Union agreement between the EU and Turkey which secures obstacle-free import-export transactions. Whereas, the agreements concluded between some states and Lebanon did not benefit the latter at the production level, but rather functioned in favor of the other side of the agreement, Mozannar lamented. The main setback in Lebanon, he expounded, is the labor force. Only four to five out of 360 textile plants registered with the Syndicate since the seventies are still operational in the country. In conclusion, Al Akhbar emphasized the need to sustain the remaining clothes manufacturers and suppliers and to focus on the support of the fashion couture and haute couture industries that tune in with the Lebanese situation, pointing to some 400 ateliers and workshops run by highly-talented and competent designers, whose numbers are increasing by year as compared to the traditional fabrics and textile factories. (Al Akhbar, April 18, 2018)

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Job Fair at BAU: Opportunities in business and pharmacy but not in engineering

18-4-2018

The Beirut Arab University (BAU) inaugurated the Job Fair 2018 with the participation of 50 establishments and companies from various sectors who laid out the available labor market opportunities. According to AL Akhbar newspaper, the business administration and pharmacy disciplines were the most popular in attracting jobs, while prospects for law and arts shrank back to become almost absent for engineering. The indication for the withdrawal of the latter, the engineering specialty, Al Akhbar wrote, is mostly due to the absence this year of Solidere company as a result of the absence of projects and lack of vacant posts. What is remarkable, Al Akhbar went on to say, is that the majority of partakers in the exhibition wanted to advertise their vacancies rather than outline the nature of their work, which was thrilling to students who inquired basically about salaries and the working conditions. And as one organization explained, the significance of the job fair lies in the fact that students have the edge over other job seekers, for they showed up in person to find out head on about the opportunities from company officials and employees. (Al Akhbar, April 18, 2018)

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Draft bill to reduce food wastage in commercial sector

13-4-2018

MP Ghassan Mkheiber has put forward to the Legislative a proposal to fight food waste and food loss. During a press conference to present his case, Mkheiber pointed out to the squandering of food in hypermarkets, grocery stores and eateries in the country, pointing to the huge amounts of discarded, uneaten or unsold foods while there are plenty of hungry families out there. The proposed bill, Mkheiber explained, creates a social deterrent to make use of the wasted foods to feed poverty-stricken households. Mkheiber outlined the explanatory statement of the proposal which contains disciplinary penalties and positive incentives enforcing involved parties to comply, hoping that the Lebanese parliament will discuss and ratify the draft. The main explanatory statements state that, statistics conducted globally has maintained that food waste could cause an economic imbalance locally and internationally. All world countries, especially advanced states, have adopted legislations to reduce food waste and to force food establishments to act in accordance, given the gravity of the matter at the social, economic, environmental, commercial and even health levels. The squandering of food could create hazards on food security and exacerbate poverty. The ratification of said law stems from the responsibility of the State to safeguard basic human rights. For more information on the proposal, kindly visit the following link: http://nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/show-news/338288. (Al Mustaqbal, April 13, 2018)

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SQUAD for developing agro-food in Tripoli

13-4-2018

The president of the Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Agriculture for Tripoli and the North, Tawfic Dabusi, launched yesterday the second conference entitled SQUAD, Securite et Qualite des produits agroalimentaires, under the patronage of premier Saad Hariri represented by former minister, head of SEZ, Raya Hassan. The event aims to enhance the food sector through the application of specifications, observance of quality standards and provision of food safety requirements, which is sustained through partnerships and networking between scientific societies and the business community in various sectors. During the event, Hassan stressed that the government is giving special attention to the food safety and security issues, revealing that the Cedar 2 conference has been successful beyond expectations, and pointing to Tripoli’s development share as a result particularly in the field of training and rehabilitation of the agri-food industry. Similarly, Dabusi pointed out that the conference is compatible with the role of quality control laboratories at the Chamber vis-à-vis food safety and the development of food industries. Among interventions made during the congress, Professor Monzer Hamzeh, said the purpose is always community service and human health, while the dean of the School of Health at the Lebanese University, Dr. Nina Zeidan, drew attention to the daily hazards, especially the impact of contamination and pollution within the food sector. (Al Mustaqbal, April 13, 2018)

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MoUs to develop cooperative agriculture in Baalbaq/Hermel

12-4-2018

The director of the Social and Economic Development Fund, Haitham Omar, along with representatives of some 42 agricultural coops signed yesterday memorandums of understanding aimed at the development of agricultural production in the areas of Baalbaq-Hermel with funds from the EU. On the occasion held at the premises of the Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Agriculture in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, the director of Cooperatives at the Fund, Mohamad Arabi, outlined the evolution of the project intended to alleviate the economic and social pressure of Syrian displacement, reduce the cost of production in the agricultural sector, the first economic resource in the area, and improve the social conditions of farmers and host communities. Similarly, Gloria Abu Zeid, the director general of Cooperatives at the agriculture ministry, described cooperation with the EU as a key catalyst for Lebanon’s agriculture and for enhancing the living conditions of low-income people in the area. In addition, such cooperation provides jobs, promotes collective work and contributes to women empowerment, Abu Zeid maintained. EU representative in his turn stressed the significance of cooperation between the Union and its partners in supporting cooperatives for they have the potential to play a pivotal role in assisting local communities, generating employment, enhancing the role of women, developing the value chain and economic development, especially with the continuous pressure of the Syrian refugee crisis on host communities. (Al Mustaqbal, April 12, 2018)

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Supporting small-enterprises in the North

12-4-2018

The European Institute for Cooperation and Development (IECD) and the Principality of Monaco signed yesterday a Cooperation Agreement in which they contribute up to 250,000 Euros in support of small Lebanese enterprises in North Lebanon. On the occasion held at the Serail of Tripoli, Rasha Ismail, IECD north officer, said the project aims to train and support entrepreneurs who run ventures of not more than 10 employees in Tripoli, Akkar, Dinniyeh, Koora, Zgharta and other northern areas, for a period of three years. She clarified that by the end of the project in 2020, the number of program beneficiaries is projected to reach 90 through the development of skills of entrepreneurs, assisting them to improve their living conditions and the creation of new jobs. For his part, North governor, Ramzy Nahra, underlined the importance of the project amidst the economic crisis and the high rate of unemployment, noting that the North and Tripoli in particular, are in need of similar undertakings. In his turn, the minister of foreign affairs for Monaco, Tonelli Gilles, revealed that some 300 small enterprises in North Lebanon will benefit from training required for their growth and integration. (Al Mustaqbal, April 12, 2018)

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