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More recommendations to revive the ailing agricultural sector

6-11-2017

The tourism and agriculture committee convened on Friday under MP Ayoub Hmayid and with the presence of agriculture minister Ghazi Zeiater to discuss the situation of the sector in light of the recent standoff in export to some Arab states of the Lebanese banana, potato, citrus and apples. The meeting tackled hindrances that basically require political interventions as well as direct negotiations with the importing countries, as noted in the statement issued by the end of the session. The statement also called for concerted government-led efforts to revive the agricultural sector. Additionally, the committee discussed matters related to supporting the sector and the development of a clear agricultural policy in response to the suffering of farmers who grieve the absence of a clear strategy to this effect. Participants also discussed the general policy of the ministry of agriculture and an in-depth study of it in the next two weeks, the statement added, hoping a solution to the export impasse will see light soon. (Al Diyar, November 4, 2017)

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Energy Forum to stimulate production, jobs

6-11-2017

In its edition of today, An Nahar newspaper highlighted the Lebanese National Economy Forum launched last week under the title ‘Revitalizing the economy’. The newspaper described the event as being different in terms of the recommendations it issued and which called for the formation of follow-up committees to monitor their implementation. On the subject, An Nahar spoke to economic advisor, Charbel Qurdahi, who stressed that the conference aims to channel energies towards production through application of structural reform that restores economic growth and creates jobs on the medium term. This, Qurdahi explained, is irrespective of the State’s plans to upgrade its finances at the level of macroeconomics which needs years to be executed. The proposed reforms, Qurdahi stated, include several ailing sectors that are not directly involved with State difficulties, notably the gas and oil sectors, insurance and banking, industry, IT, religious tourism and medical tourism, and finally the reconstruction of Syria, to be supervised by the Lebanese National Energy (LNE). One spotlight, according to An Nahar, is religious tourism, where the conference recommended the launching in 2018 of a workshop by the ministry of tourism and the setting up of a committee that has an executive power and includes the government and the ministries of tourism, culture and public works with a mission to rehabilitate archeological sites periodically. As regards the industrial sector, recommendations included the creation of 3 industrial cities, the establishment of the necessary infrastructure and preparation of a project intended for long-term and low-interest sale within the cities. (An Nahar, November 4, 2017)

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Efforts to grant entry to Jordan of Lebanese potato fail

3-11-2017

An Nahar revealed today that negotiations with Jordan to grant entry to the Lebanese potatoes have failed especially following Premier Saad Hariri call to his Jordanian counterpart on October 24 and his promise to solve the problem. The Lebanese minister of agriculture, Ghazi Z3ayater, was assigned to follow up on the subject and provide the necessary lab tests to reassure the Jordanian side of the safety of the imported crops. To note, the Lebanese trucks loaded with potato have been stranded in the Port of Aqaba since October 15 and have been waiting to enter Jordan. (c.f: http://bit.ly/2zhB6Fp) A delegation of potato farmers has visited the minister on October 31st. The latter promised them to resolve the impasse and secure new outlets for made-in-Lebanon goods. Similarly, the Democratic Gathering MP Wa2el Abu Fa3oor visited Z3ayter yesterday to discuss the crisis of agriculture and both sides agreed to put an end to smuggling and penalize smugglers and confiscate the smuggled goods that are blatantly competing domestic production. Zeiater and Abu F3aoor contacted the director general of the Lebanese Customs, Badri Daher, to this effect. (AN Nahar, Al Diyar, November 1 and 3, 2017)

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A hidden war between Tripoli and Tartus ports

2-11-2017

Lately, there has been a lot of talk on participation of reconstruction in post-war Syria, the anticipated role of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and an urgency to expand the Port of Tripoli. In this respect, Al Akhbar drew attention to a secret war between Tripoli and Tartus ports. The latter is preparing for a new investment phase unparalleled in size and shape and is upgrading its logistics to become a regional base for the reconstruction process. Al Akhbar mentioned that the Syrian Chamber of Maritime Shipping has repeatedly warned that Syrian ports are under fierce competition from ports in neighboring countries who have devised strategies to increase their revenues and make huge profits betting all their chips on the reconstruction period. The above Maritime Chamber clarified that the Port of Tripoli administrators rely on an estimated study setting the trade traffic between 40-50 million tons of goods shipped via sea annually, which exceeds the current capacity of the Syrian ports and Beirut Port, leaving out 20-30 million tons to be accommodated at supplementary harbors. To this effect, the Maritime Chamber asked the Syrian government to act quickly, logistically or legislatively, and proposed the following: first, restriction of the import activity to Syrian ports in order to “increase production and support the national facilities, and, second, the issuance of a comprehensive customs bill that is flexible and compatible with international maritime laws and regulations.” On the other hand, former minister Abdel Rahim Mrad, revealed that some prominent Lebanese figures are in Germany setting up companies to clandestinely get going in future investments in the war-torn country, pointing to nearly USD 200 billion as a start for reconstruction. This means, Mrad said, that everyone is readying themselves for business (the Lebanese more than the Syrians). (Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, October 25, 2017)

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Lebanese Wine Day in America between November 16 and 20

1-11-2017

Lebanese foreign minister Jibran Bassil announced in a press conference yesterday the participation of 26 local companies in the forthcoming ‘Lebanese Wine Day 2017’ to take place on November 16 and 20 in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California. The event, to note, is organized by the ministry of agriculture in partnership with the American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce (AmCham). Bassil said Lebanon is able to increase its production of wine from 9 million to 100 million bottles every year, generating an extra USD 1 billion to the national economy, creating additional jobs and fostering tourism. Bassil disclosed that Lebanon has improved its export of wine in the past 4 years by 15%, noting that the sector needs a boost from the government in many areas. Similarly, the director general of agriculture, Louis Lahoud, said the launch of the Lebanese Wine day in the two US cities comes as part of the ministry’s plan to develop the sector which was kicked off 5 years ago with the support of the private sector. AmCham president, Salim Zeenni, said the event showcases one aspect of the Lebanese successes worldwide. For his part, the president of the Union Vinicole du Liban, Zafer Chawi, said this activity contributes to strengthening the role of Lebanon as a distinguished producer of wine, pointing out that the Lebanese wine today boasts high quality and promotes Lebanon’s name in more than 30 world states. To recall, the ‘Lebanese Wine Day’ was held for the first time in 2003 in Paris, followed by Berlin in 2014 and NYC in 2016. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, November 2, 2017)

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Olive oil from tree to table

31-10-2017

In a special feature, An Nahar described the arduous olive picking season in the country from the tree to the consumer’s table, with special focus on the Modern Olive Oil Mill and Press of Bint Jbeil. The latter receives tens of olive growers every day with a daily output of thousands of kilograms of olives (nearly 20 tons equivalent to 250 olive oil containers). The season, An Nahar wrote, begins with the picking ritual where families race to the groves to collect the harvest and rush it to the mill. There, the olives are sorted from leaves and twigs, washed and dropped into the press to be pummeled and the mush filtered to separate the oil from the dregs and the end product is pristine olive oil. An Nahar also mentioned that during the extraction process, the olive pits or residues are collected to be used as fuel for heating. It is believed, An Nahar said, that olive trees only bear a full crop every other year, but this is not realistic. The factors involved are multiple, most importantly are, the inadequate care for the olive tree and the lack of agricultural extension and recommended fertilizers, the newspaper pointed out. It also cited criticism by olive growers of certain agricultural associations that allege to assist farmers but which in fact do nothing to help. (An Nahar, October 31, 2017)

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Upgrading the quality of olive oil, table olives and wine of Lebanon

27-10-2017

The Agriculture and Tourism Committee endorsed unanimously on October 24th a bill that allows access to the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015. The Committee hoped the Speaker of the House will present the draft for ratification at the first upcoming meeting of the General Assembly. On the other hand, the ministry of agriculture, in cooperation with the French Embassy, the Lebanese universities (USJ, Holy Spirit- Kaslik, Beirut Arab University, Balamand) and the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute organized yesterday a scientific awareness conference on ‘olive oil and wine’. The conference aims at enhancing the quality of the products destined for local consumption and export. The chair of the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, LARI, Dr. Michel Efram, said the Institute has developed its scientific research in the two sectors, in coordination with pertinent French institutes, and lauded the continuous French support for LARI. For her part, the representative of the French Ambassador to Beirut, explained the nature of the Lebanese-French collaboration in improving the quality of the olive oil and wine industries which constitute a national heritage of the two Mediterranean states. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, October 25, 27, 2017)

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Lebanon ranks at the bottom in Nation Brands Index 2017

26-10-2017

Lebanon ranked 94th among 100 countries in terms of its nation brand value, and in the second to last place among 16 countries of the MENA region, according to the Nation Brands Index 2017 published by the global consultancy firm Brand Finance. The index measures the value of the brand of 100 countries based on 5-year forecasts of the sales revenues of all brands in each country, using the country’s GDP as a proxy for total revenues. The country’s post-tax brand revenues are discounted to a net present value to calculate the current brand value. The Brand Finance report published in Byblos Group weekly monitor estimated Lebanon’s brand value at USD 21 billion in 2017 at a 3.2% decline from the past year. The Index, in parallel, promoted Lebanon’s brand strength from A to A+ on the Brand Strength Index 2017. Each country is rated by the performance of the investment, goods, services and society pillars, that are based on 4 sub-pillars, and they are: tourism, market, governance, people and skills. (L’Orient Le Jour, October 26, 2017)

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Lebanon ranks 56th globally and third regionally in e-commerce

25-10-2017

Lebanon ranked, 56th among of 144 countries, globally, 12th among 38 middle to high income countries and third among Arab countries, according to the 2017 edition of the UNCTAD Business-to-Consumer (B2C) E-commerce Index. Lebanon’s global ranking fell by 7 points when calculating the same number of countries enlisted in the 2016 and 2017 survey. UNCTAD has developed the indicator to measure the preparedness of countries to engage in e-commerce, in line with 7 indices which are: internet penetration rate, number of secure internet servers per one million people, frequency rate of electronic payments and the reliability of postal services. The B2C E-commerce Index has shown that the rate of internet usage in Lebanon was 76%, the 35 highest rate in the world and the fourth highest among the middle to high income countries and the Arab countries covered by the survey, and higher than the global rate which is 52%. The index further revealed that there are some 58 secure internet providers per one million people in Lebanon, compared to 55.7 servers per one million worldwide, 56.4 servers for middle to high income countries and 44.8 servers per one million people in the Arab region. Finally, the index indicated that Lebanon made 70 points in the Integrated Index for Postal Development as compared to a global average of (53.7), middle to high income countries (49.3) and an Arab rate of (56.1), where Lebanon ranked 62 globally, 15 among middle to high income countries and third regionally. You can find the complete results of the index in English, on the following link: : http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/tn_unctad_ict4d09_en.pdf ( L’Orient Le Jour, October 24, 2017)

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New French branch in Beirut for Entrepreneurship Master

25-10-2017

Yesterday saw the launch from the Grand Serail of the partnership between the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Beirut and Mount Lebanon, HEC-Paris and Ecole Superieure des Affaires to inaugurate a new Entrepreneurship Master degree from the HEC Beirut branch as of September 2018. On the occasion, Nicolas Boukhater, president of the HEC Alumni in Lebanon underlined the important role played by HEC in developing the educational level and the national economy, as well as, in creation of jobs. For his part, the president of Beirut Chamber, Mohamad Choukeir, said: “Today with the presence of HEC, the prestigious French university at the forefront of the world’s selective graduate schools of business and commerce, we have made a progressive step to institute Lebanon as a regional academic and economic hub.” Similarly, HEC CEO Jean-Paul Fermisse pointed out that innovation is of utmost importance for Lebanon and France as it galvanizes development for both nations, and introduce this truth to the young generation. Hariri, in turn, maintained that this stride reflects hope for the young men and women of Lebanon that they can develop themselves and move forward. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, October 25, 2017)

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