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Bayt.com posts over 42,000 new jobs

17-10-2017

The leading job portal in the Middle East, Bay.com ( https://www.bayt.com/ar/lebanon/) concluded the third quarter of the year 2017 with the announcement of 42 thousand new jobs announced between July and September. This allows job seekers across the MENA region to explore the opportunities available on the website every day and apply online, a press release said. The number of new jobs advertised on Bay.com during the third quarter of the current year represents nearly 29.1% increase in online job postings compared to the first quarter of 2017 and a 13.72% against the second quarter, according to the press release, which added, that the number of jobs announced online increased by 21.25% overall. In this respect, the director of Bayt.com, Suheil Masri, said: “With some 30,000 résumés registered on our site, we step up our efforts and create novel strategies to generate new career prospects and make them easily accessible.” (Al Mustaqbal, October 17, 2017)

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Government’s actions in favour of apple wheat and barley farmers 

14-10-2017

Following the finance minister’s tweet mentioning the disbursement of the second LBP 20 billion installment in compensation to apple growers (https://goo.gl/uQsrS7), the president of the Lebanese Farmers Association, Antoine Howayek, said the allocated amounts have not been transferred to the farmers bank accounts, warning that the “government officials are not to be trusted.” The money, Howayek stated, has been delivered to the Higher Relief Council but not advanced to the farmers to date. He hoped there would be no deductions on the pledged compensations especially that farmers are anticipating new marketing difficulties concerning the current harvest that has been picked and rushed to cold storage. Meanwhile, the minister of trade and economy, Ra2ed Khury, issued a circular No. 1981/9 on Wednesday indicating the dates of delivery of the local wheat and barley supplies for the season 2017. The dates are as follows: South Lebanon and Nabatieh 17/10/2017 until 16/11/2017 and the Beqaa and Baalbaq Hermel, Akkar and the North from 17/10/2017 until 31/12/2017. (An Nahar, October 12, 2017)

 Previous related news: 
Compensation to apple farmers finally released

 

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Cannabis growers in Beqaa slam the government

12-10-2017

An Nahar featured today the cultivation of cannabis in Beqaa as a compensation for losses associated with traditional agriculture and for government’s lack of support. In this respect, the newspaper reminded of the government 1992 alternative agriculture project aimed to encourage Baalbaq and Hermel farmers to substitute the cannabis with other crops that can generate higher proceeds. To recall, the project was set to last until 2006 at an estimated cost of USD 300 million provided by the United Nations agency in charge of the project. An Nahar drew attention to large-scale corruption and political interventions that stopped the project in 2000, while noting that the UN pledged contributions did not exceed USD 20 million. Pointing to the close start of the harvest and to the wastage of the past three seasons which was not a priority for the government, the newspaper wondered if the latter stimulated this cultivation by turning the blind eye. On the subject, An Nahar spoke to a number of farmers who said they have been duped by the attitude of slackness and inaction of the Lebanese State. They said they are planting cannabis to live, while noting the consequences of their illegal status. Some 36,000 arrest warrants have been issued against them for drugs and illegal trade involvement, they told An Nahar reporter. While the agriculture situation is calamitous, and the Beqaa farmers are left to the mercy of undesirable weather hazards and avaricious merchants, they proposed setting up an integrated agricultural program and establishing a cost-effective alternative agriculture, aided with government support throughout all stages of production. (An Nahar, October 12, 2017)

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Grape molasses day in Rashaya al Wadi

12-10-2017

The Rashaya & Beyond association, involved in development and eco-tourism, organized on Sunday October 8 the Grape Molasses Day to familiarize people with the area’s heritage and resources. Some 1,500 visitors flocked from across Lebanon to taste the traditional foodies made by Rashaya al Wadi, including honey, dried figs and, specially, the grape molasses. On the event, Nizar Mhanna, head of the above association said the aim of the activity is to introduce the town with what it boasts to tourers, particularly the conventional method of making grape molasses. Bahaa Qodami from Good Grapes association explained the stages of preparing the molasses, from picking the grapes, to washing and squeezing, boiling and condensing. (L’Orient Le Jour, October 10, 2017)

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Farmers’ seasonal plight in Lebanon

11-10-2017

With each new season, Lebanese farmers raise their voice to highlight the difficulty in marketing their harvests and to slam the negative attitude of government, which are causing financial losses. Al Diyar newspaper said in an agricultural feature, that with the end of September and the start of October of each year, the Beqaa farmer is on a date with more disastrous circumstances brought about by poor marketing of the apple production due to the ongoing conflict in neighboring Syria and the closure of the transit route to Arab states via Syria. A group of local farmers criticized government’ response stating that the first batch of compensation for apple growers was insufficient to compensated their huge losses. While many others admitted that the government’s procrastination drives them to engage in the illegal cultivation of cannabis, as well as in robbery and theft. On the other hand, agricultural cooperative associations in Batroon area, outlined in a letter to the agriculture minister, its requests and needs, including observing an additional share for olive coops in the Caza, and provision of assistance to apple and olive growers in terms of fertilizers and marketing their crops. On the other hand the chief of the Beqaa Farmers Association, Ibrahim Tarshishi, announced on Friday the disbursement by the ministry of finance of a LBP 23 billion cash advance allocated for the current wheat harvest supply, and asked farmers to prepare their produce for delivery as per LBP 590 for one kg, as approved by the Cabinet. Tarshishi said the decision ends a 3-year chapter of inaction by the government which refrained from collecting the supplies and compensated farmers financially. On a related note, MP, Anwar Khalil, commended the recent decision of Prime Minister Hariri to support olive oil production in Hasbaya and Marje3yoon. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, September 25, 29, 2017)

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Banking on industrialization to counter emigration

11-10-2017

Lebanon’s productive sectors have been undermined since the end of civil war in 1990, and the industrial sector has been destabilized like other marginalized sectors, thus representing a smaller proportion of national economy due mainly to a history of missed development opportunities, according to Al Akhbar today. The newspaper cited the executive director of the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS), Sami Atallah, and fellow economic researcher, Nancy Ezzedine, as saying that the share of the industrial sector out of the total GDP has shrank steadily from 24% in 1997 to 14% in 2016. They pointed out that Lebanon continues to register the worst trade deficit in the region, mostly as a result of dependency on imports and poor export outlets. The trade deficit reached USD 15.65 billion by December 2016, with a 3.56% annual increase. Atallah and Ezzedine went on to explain that the industrial sector has been constrained due to limited development in industrial policy, poor electricity coverage and a high cost of production, in addition to the repercussions of the Syrian conflict. In conclusion, the economists pointed out that Lebanon requires a supportive industrial policy capable of optimizing benefit from industrialization prospects, noting that this strategy is key to the development of the country in order to create highly sophisticated jobs and dodge further brain drain. For the article in Al Akhbar, kindly visit the link: https://www.al-akhbar.com/node/284538. (For more about Lebanon’s manufacturing sector please check: https://www.lcps-lebanon.org/publication.php?id=295&category=900&year=2017 ) (Al Akhbar, October 11, 2017) (Al Akhbar, October 11, 2017)

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Compensation to apple farmers finally released

10-10-2017

In a tweet yesterday, the finance minister, Ali Hassan Khalil, mentioned the release of the second LBP 20 billion installment in compensation to apple growers, noting that the first and equal batch of payment has been delivered back in May (: http://bit.ly/2qLojnk). To recall, the government on August 25 agreed to pay the second installment before end of the month, but the finance ministry deferred the transfer of the amount. Accordingly, the prime minister pledged during a legislative meeting on September 16 to release the overdue payment before the end of the month. However, none of these promises were met, which prompted the chief of the Lebanese farmers Association, Antoine Howayek, to egg farmers on to a revolution to claim their demands and rights “under a leadership that has no roof for its struggle” as he said. Earlier in August, apple growers staged a series of protests in response to the delay in payment of the compensation and to reiterate their requests for finding external markets for their produce. On this front, and following the two agreements signed last September between agriculture minister, Ghazi Zeiter, and his Syrian and Jordanian counterparts to increase Lebanese exports to both states, Zeiater stressed on Monday the need to reopen borders with Syria and coordinate with its government on facilitating the marketing of agricultural products to the Arab countries via the Syria gate.  (L’Orient Le Jour, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, October 3, 4, 9, 10, 2017)

 

Previous related news: 
More promises and suggestions to deal with the apple glut
Further delays in settlement of compensation for apple farmers
Akkar apple growers receive part of compensation
Apple farmers protest shrinking compensation
 

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Marketing made-in-Lebanon products locally

10-10-2017

The chief of the Mount Lebanon Traders Union, Nasib Gemayel, and a number of heads of trade associations in Mount Lebanon, visited yesterday the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA) premises where he met president Fadi Gemayel and members. During the meeting, participants discussed the challenges facing the trade and industrial sectors amidst precarious economic conditions. Both sides agreed to give traders priority for marketing their goods in the local commercial establishments of Mount Lebanon. The head of the Union launched an initiative in support of the industrial sector asking merchants to prioritize the selling of made-in-Lebanon products at their shops. He announced that as of today, traders, whether members or non-members, of Mount Lebanon associations will receive circulars to this end. In the next phase, Gemayel clarified, “we shall cooperate with the LIA and various economic groups on the development of a trade law in Lebanon that takes into consideration this matter and other issues such as regulating the big shopping centers sector.” (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, October 10, 2017)

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Lebanese food sector represents only 2.6% of GDP but 21% of exports

10-10-2017

Some 18 Lebanese agro-food firms, mainly manufacturers of canned food, juices, beverages, nuts and spices, were present at the Anuga 2017 trade fair in Cologne, Germany (October 7-11). The chairman of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), Nabil Itani, stressed on the occasion, the significance of IDAL’s backing to the largest number of Lebanese companies to partake in similar international exhibitions that link local producers to global importers as well as help them explore the latest technologies across the industry. Itani pointed out that the resourceful Lebanese food sector has established itself and has made a quantum leap in recent years to make up nearly 2.6% of the GDP, with agro-food exports representing 21% of the total exports in 2016. To note, Anuga, which is one of the three agro-food international fairs supported by the Lebanese Cabinet as proposed by IDAL, receives around 16 thousand visitors from 150 world countries. (Al Hayat, October 10, 2017)

Previous related news:
Food industries’ participation in Anuga 2017 trade fair in Germany
Government covers cost of Lebanese participation in international fairs
 

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Sook el Akel on Saida Waterfront

9-10-2017

With the support of the Municipality of Saida and NoGarlicNoOnions venture, the Rotaract Club of Saida organized on Friday Sook el Akel festivity at Saida Waterfront. The proceeds of this 3-day activity (from October 6 to 8) will go to complete the solar lighting of the streets of Saida project by the municipality. According to Rotaract-Saida president, Dania Dada, the event contributes to the development of the southern capital and to the promotion of tourism in it through attracting visitors from other regions to learn more about the city. The festivity was marked with large crowds who flocked from Saida and the environs to taste the delicacies displayed by over 20 food booths. NoGarlicNoOnion founder Antoni Rahil in this respect said the festival showcased good foodies from all over the world made by the Lebanese. On the second day, and during her tour of the venue, MP Bahiya Hariri commended the many dynamic events that took place in the city despite the tough conditions it has witnessed recently. (Al Mustaqbal, October 10, 2017)

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