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A modest step for Lebanon along China’s new silk road

12-9-2017

The minister of economy, Raed Khoury, signed a memorandum of understanding between the governments of China and Lebanon on ‘joint promotion of cooperation in the framework of the Silk Road economic belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative’. The MOU was concluded during an official visit to China to participate in the China-Arab States Expo 2017 held between September 5 and 7 in the city of Yinchuan. The Memorandum provides for cooperation between the two sides in areas of common interest, notably transport, logistics, infrastructure, investment, trade, energy and renewable energy, cultural exchange, health and sports. On the sidelines of the exhibition, Khoury discussed with Chinese officials the possibility of increasing Lebanese exports to China, where in fact a number of commodities, including soap, oil, wine, nuts and others, have been approved for marketing in China. Also, the president of the Special Economic Zone for Tripoli (SEZ), Raya Hassan, who was part of the Lebanese delegation, signed two agreements with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Yinchuan Technological Zone authority. Discussions with Chinese political and economic officials on the possibility of cooperation between SEZ and the Chinese private sector preceded the signing. (L’Orient Le Jour, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, September 12, 2017)

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First Phoenician craft village in Tyre

12-9-2017

Under the title, ‘Tyre ateliers’ for sustainable development, the first Phoenician craft village project was launched yesterday in the southern city of Tyre. Funded by the French Committee for Tyre, the project was opened by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, the president of the International Association to Save Tyre, Maha Khalil Chalabi. The project’s coordinator and director, Samar Makki said it included craft and artisan works, jewelry making, glassblowing, environment activities and agriculture produce, and it promotes the Phoenician heritage throughout an area of 1500 square meters. During the inauguration ceremony, former minister George Corm said the aim of the undertaking is to revive the Phoenician culture in Lebanon and open innovative prospects for craftspeople, in addition to invigorating the local economic cycle in Tyre and environs. For his part, former French foreign minister, Herve de Charette, underlined the significance of the project in enlivening the cultural heritage of one of the most renowned and ancient Phoenician cities. (Al Mustaqbal, September 12, 2017).

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Food and crafts fair in the old Rashayya sook

11-9-2017

Yesterday saw the opening of the food, crafts and industrial fair of Rashayya and West Beqaa as part of ‘Rawwiq bi Rashayya’ activity aimed at preserving the heritage and traditions of the area. Present at the ceremony were, MP Wael Abu Faour, member of the Democratic Gathering, Bassam Dallal, Rashaya mayor, and event coordinator, Liliane Maalouli, in addition to concerned associations and representatives of the Union of Municipalities. The exhibition hosted a live cooking laboratory made of local products under the supervision of chef Jad Simionedes. “We celebrate to showcase our heritage, authenticity and cultural traditions in collaboration with the town’s authorities,” Dallal stated. He revealed a determination to support the young people and encourage talents. Maalouli, in turn, said: “We strive to achieve sustainable tourism as an innovative process to revive economy, attract visitors and identify labor needs,” underlining the importance of integrating natural resources into a complete economic cycle. )Al Mustaqbal, September 11, 2017(

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First Arabic guide on child labor in agriculture

11-9-2017

The International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) jointly launched the first Arabic language guide for practitioners on child labor in agriculture in a ceremony held in Beirut on September 6. Entitled, ‘Child Labor in Agriculture: A Guide for Practitioners’, the publication offers practical info on addressing and challenging the practice of child labor in the industry, where ILO estimates the number of working children at 13.4 million (representing nearly 15%) of the total number of children in the Arab region. The eruption of the war in neighboring Syria and the influx of refugee families has led to a dramatic increase in the number of children in child labor and the exploitation of hundreds of them in hazardous and sometimes fatal working conditions. According to the above guide, agriculture is considered one of the most perilous of the three sectors, alongside mining and construction, given the harmful consequences of the nature of work. Many children, the guide indicated, start work at a very young age extending the duration and therefore, the degree of exposure to the hazards of this labor in their lifetime. Moreover, child labor impedes the viability of permanent employment opportunities for these children when they become young adults, and at the same time is an indication of non-sustainable agriculture and slows down rural development. The Guide consists of 5 chapters, in addition to a CD comprising power point presentations that can be used by facilitators and trainers in the field of combating child labor. For more info, kindly visit the following link: :http://bit.ly/2xYFeqP (Al Mustaqbal 10 September 2017)

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UNIFIL’s support to local communities in South Lebanon

7-9-2017

Al Hayat highlighted today the community development role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, deployed in South Lebanon since 1978. Numbering 10500 individuals from 41 different countries, UNIFIL has created squads for local development in their areas of operation. For more on the subject, Al Hayat spoke to the Strategic Communications and Information officer at UNIFIL, Melanie Jansen, who said that besides its main peacekeeping mission, the international force has made several contributions targeting local communities in its areas of operation. The mission, Jansen stated, works in cooperation with municipalities and local authorities with the aim of building capacities of institutions and boosting undertakings in key areas to sustain these communities in the long term. These include, health, veterinary assistance, environment protection, agriculture and adequate sewage treatment, in addition to organizing language courses, visitors exchange programs and capacity building training workshops in the southern towns and villages. Jansen stressed that UNIFIL gives priority to projects serving young people, children and women through so-called quick-impact projects (QIPs) that are small-scale, rapidly implementable and achieve direct results. Jansen pointed out that in the past five years, UNIFIL has invested nearly USD 5.2 million in 146 community projects it undertook in the different villages within its area of operation. Recently, UNIFIL has bolstered the work of women-run cooperatives to help women expand their businesses and activities, Jansen concluded, maintaining that thousands of UNIFIL personnel significantly contribute to the local economic cycle. (Al Hayat, September 7, 2017)

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Patisserie Noura bought by Lebanese investors

6-9-2017

A number of Lebanese investors have reportedly bought the prestigious Patisserie Noura that is located in Sassine square, Ashrafieh. One of the main investors, is the young entrepreneur and former private banker, Julian Khabaz, 37 years, who became the majority shareholder, in addition to Shawi Group owner of Chateau Ksara. Le Commerce du Levant which published the news, did not disclose the amount of the transaction, but Khabaz placed it between USD 10 to 15 million. The transfer of ownership completed on August 1st will not change the rules of procedures or company policies regarding the 70 or so employees of Noura, the magazine wrote. Khabaz maintained that he will announce the deal and the opening of two branches during the patisserie’s projected 70th anniversary in 2018. According to Le Commerce du Levant, Noura was not on the hook financially, but its original owner, Edwin Chaarawi, has chosen to sell it for family reasons, not that total revenues of the enterprise currently exceeds USD 6 million and is increasing 5% annually )Le Commerce du Levant, September, 2017(

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Cattle farmers complain against milk powder competition

6-9-2017

A large number of dairy farmers and producers have expressed resentment over competition from milk powder traders which provides for the dairy and cheese processing plants in Bekaa and other governorates, Al Mustaqbal reported yesterday. Cattle and dairy farmers have revealed an upsurge recently in the smuggling or import of milk powder as a result of an increase in demand for similar made-in-Lebanon products from some Arab countries. On the subject, Khalil. R, who keeps a dairy farm in Central Bekaa, pointed out that owners of dairy processing factories mix fresh cow’s milk with big doses of milk powder to boost their profits. The current price of one kg of fresh milk varies between LBP 700 to 900 against LBP 300 for one kg of milk powder, meaning that owners of factories tend to increase their proceeds illegally by 40%. Mohamad Uthman, a grieving farmer, warned of an imminent crisis before winter. Milk factory owners, he said, seek to significantly reduce the quantities of the fresh milk they receive from dairy farmers by adding milk powder in cheese making and dairy processing. Owners of factories, who categorically deny the accusation, stress their complete commitment to production of first rate dairy goods well reputed among the Lebanese, Arab and foreign consumers. The present price, they claimed, is the best Lebanese dairy farmers can get, and so are the supplied quantities, noting that production is subject to supply and demand like any other industry or sector. (Al Mustaqbal, September 5, 2017)

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Apple growers to protest against government’s neglect

6-9-2017

Following the deferral second installment of the agreed compensation for apple farmers, and in response to the continued disregard by the government of the agriculture sector and the resulting slump in harvest, the Lebanese Farmers Association announced a series of protest actions to be launched across Lebanon. This will kick off with a rally in Beqaa on Friday, September 8, where farmers will reportedly gather, around 11 am, at the main road between Nabi Uthman and Labweh, to ask the government to salvage this year’s apple produce and to remind it of the farmers unkempt demands. (http://bit.ly/2e7Cile). Meanwhile, appeals have increased recently to find external outlets for the marketing of Akkar apples. In this respect, Mishmish mayor, on behalf of the town’s apple growers, urged the three presidents and the ministers of economy and agriculture to pay due attention to this cultivation. This agriculture, he said, constitutes the basic livelihood for the families of local farmers and the cash needed to cover their children’s stationery and other school requirements, at a time when the costs of fertilizers and labor are soaring and the prices of high-quality fruit is plummeting, which could lead to a disaster. For his part, the minister of agriculture Ghazi Ze3aiter revealed that negotiations continue with Egyptian officials, stating that the Lebanese-Egyptian Joint Higher Committee has reached an agreement whereby Egypt will import Lebanese apples. The export mechanism, Ze3aiter said, will be announced in a week’s time. The minister was speaking during a meeting with a MP Khaled Zahraman who visited him on top of a delegation of representatives of the municipalities of Jurd al Qati’, Fneidik, Mishmish, Jooma and Akoora. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, An Nahar, September 1,5, 6, 2017)

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Meeting with Syrian agriculture minister shortly to boost trade

5-9-2017

The minister of agriculture Ghazi Zeaiter described as fruitful the negotiations he undertook with Syrian officials on the sidelines of the Damascus International Fair concerning bilateral agreements. He mentioned some 36 arrangements, in addition to the cooperation and coordination agreement which has had practical outcomes on the export of made-in-Lebanon agricultural goods and on Lebanese farmers across the country. With Syria being the main export gateway to the Arab world, Zeaiter stated, the closure of crossings has led to a crisis in export and to a relatively expensive maritime bridge plan that cost the State around LBP 50 billion for subsidizing exports. To recall, the participation of industry, agriculture and public works ministers in the Damascus Fair did not receive the Cabinet’s full support. Zeaiter’s statement came during his meeting with farmers and agricultural associations in Baalbak, where he spoke of an imminent encounter with his Syrian counterpart to complete the application and activation processes of relevant agreements and the opening of Syrian borders with Jordan and Iraq. (Al Diyar, September 5, 2017)

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100% Eid hotel reservations mainly from Iraq Jordan and Syria

5-9-2017

An Nahar newspaper highlighted in its issue of today that the tourism industry would have restored the golden years of 2008, 2009 and 20010 and the situation would have been much better had the rate of Iraqi, Jordanian and Syrian arrivals been reinforced with a more reassuring percentage of GCC visitors. For more on the subject, An Nahar interviewed the director general of the ministry of tourism, Nada Sardouk, who confirmed that the Eid holidays set off a promising start for the coming seasons. The 100% hotels occupancy rates and comparable Airbnb, furnished apartments reservations, as well as bookings at guesthouses currently totaling 100 hostels, are all indicators of a promising comeback, Sardouk said. The enhanced influx of Lebanese expats in particular has widely reflected on internal tourism which improved by 40% compared to the past two years, she maintained. Such favorable indicators along with the extraordinary traffic at Beirut International Airport that could be in fact repeated, An Nahar wrote, required Sardouk to call for a corresponding development of airport services to accommodate a larger number of travelers and aircraft, especially" if we truly want to promote international tourism and expatriate movement,” as she put it. And noting the exceptional rate of Iraqi, Jordanian and Egyptian arrivals as compared to other nationalities, with a limited number of GCC nationals, Sardouk hoped the latter will increase in numbers and extend their stay from presently one week to 20 days like in the old times. (An Nahar, September 5, 2017)

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