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Upbeat summer tourism season expected

15-6-2017

The secretary general of the syndicate of owners of hotels, Wadi’ Kanaan said he expected an improved hotel occupancy rate during the Fitr Holidays, particularly between June 26th through 31st. He pointed to a 90% to 100% rate in 4 and 5 star hotels inside Beirut, against a lower 50% to 70% outside it, anticipating a rise in hotels operating across the Lebanese regions to sustain the surplus of reservations in the capital. Kanaan confirmed that the bookings of various incoming airline flights were almost complete, noting that MEA has added some 60 flights into Lebanon, while other companies have also increased their flights, particularly those coming from the Arab Gulf countries. He drew attention to the return of Gulf tourists, namely Kuwaitis to the country. Kanaan attributed the reasons for his confidence in a promising summer to a number of things, mainly: adoption of a new electoral law and security and stability enjoyed by Lebanon, aided with the ‘Visit Lebanon’ promotional campaign launched recently by the ministry of tourism. (Al Diyar, June 15, 2017)

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Foreign ministry to review bilateral trade agreements, LIA cheers

14-6-2017

Following a wave of complaints by the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA) to the foreign ministry on the flooding of productive sectors with imported goods, and its appeal to salvage domestic industry, foreign minister, Jibran Bassil, pledged last week to reconsider trade relations with exporting countries. Bassil announced this in separate letters sent to the ministries of industry and economy. Likewise, LIA president Fadi Gemayel, commended Bassil’s move which he said substantiated the fact that industry has become a national concern par excellence. It now receives the attention of government officials, who are now convinced that industry is at the core of national economy, LIA chief noted, stressing that the Association continues to work on achieving a number of demands and awaits the adoption of previous government promises, namely, the implementation of protectionist measures. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, June 9 and 10, 2017)

Previous related news: 
Call for the review of trade agreements and for tripling exports to EU countries
Lebanon may resort to trade barriers to safeguard its industry from external dumping
Lebanon supports exporting factories and attracts foreign investments
Lebanon struggling with world trade agreements
 

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Research on unemployment and livelihoods in North Lebanon

13-6-2017

The Director General of the Central Administration of statistics, Dr. Maral Tutelian, indicated during the Cabinet meeting she attended yesterday with the director of the coordination and national accountability department, Najwa Yaacoub that a study on unemployment and live goods will kick off in the North as of July. Tutelian added that she has sought the support of the local governor, Judge Ramzi Nohra, in order to facilitate the work of the data collectors. Tutelian hoped that all governors will be as supportive as Judge Nohra. (Al Diyar and Al Mustaqbal, June 13, 2017)

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Lebanese agro-food in New York

13-6-2017

Within the framework of the current preparations for the upcoming Fancy Food Show which will be held in New York on June 25th, the President of IDAL, Nabil Itani, organized a meeting with agro-food business owners a meeting to discuss ways in which Lebanese products could be displayed in this exhibition.  Lebanese products which will be showcased in New York include nuts, coffee, spices, canned food, olive oil and others.  During the same meeting, Itani highlighted the Cabinet decision to support Lebanon’s participation in three international exhibitions in Dubai, New York, and Germany (c.f: http://bit.ly/2rq5nub).  He also noted that the interest of industrialists varies depending on the different venues of the event.  Indeed, 45 agro-ffod companies partook in the Dubai event compared to 14 in new York and 22 in Germany.  He further pointed out that this variation is due to the proximity of the event as well as the clear preferences given to Arab and GCC markets.  Itani added that the US market is promising in view of its size as well as the presence of Lebanese and Arab diaspora.  He noted that Lebanese products are waived from paying taxes on the US market where consumption of such products is high. (An Nahar June 13 2017)

 

Previous related news: 
IDAL launches national food export support program
Government covers cost of Lebanese participation in international fairs
 

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Apple farmers back to the streets because of the glut in production

12-6-2017

Apple growers will reportedly take to the streets on June 15 demanding the distribution of the next instalment of compensation, warned president of the Lebanese Farmers Association, Antoine Howayek. The latter uncovered that a number of meetings have been held by farmers to prepare for the protest in a bid to resolve the impasse. It should be noted, that during the past few weeks, the Higher Relief Council (HRC) distributed the first set of the allocated sums (LBP 20 billion) secured by the ministry of finance. Farmers, however, were shocked over the meagre amounts delivered to them, LBP 1000 for each apple crate instead of the pledged LBP 5000. In this context, An Nahar newspaper revealed that last year’s production is still stacked in cold storage. It said stored quantities are likely to remain in warehouses until after mid-June, because local markets are unlikely to be able to consume all the amounts before that period. On the subject, Badwi Deeb, a farmer, trader and owner of a refrigerated warehouse, told An Nahar that it not usual at this time of year that the conservation freezers are still operating. We are still waiting to receive the proceeds from apple exports to Egypt and other states, Badwi said. (An Nahar, June 8 and 9, 2017)

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Increasing consumer confidence against a decreasing per capita

12-6-2017

Lebanon’s consumer confidence index has scored a 2 point increase since the start of Ramadan to stand at 106 points in May, as compared to the same period of last year, according to ARA Research and Consultancy Consumer Confidence Index for May 2017. The general index registered a decline in contrast to its level in May, 2016, (112 points). The current economic conditions index recorded a new and significant rise by 58 points this month, catching up on the last two months losses and recording 142 points. Compared to last year’s level during the same period, this year’s level is significantly higher ( for it stood at 118 points, that is less by 24 points compared to its current level). The economic conditions index outlook is expected to improve by 7 points during May 2017 and to post 75 points, (which is 4 points lower than the level posted during the same period of last year). Regarding per capita income indexes, they have seen a set of declines during this month. In contrast to economic activities witnessed during the month of Ramadan, the purchasing power is not commensurate with everyday life’s demands and needs. And this weakness in the purchasing power notes a slight pessimism in the future. The present per capita income index fell 23 points from the past month and a 41 point decline from past year’s level, hence losing all that it gained in April to stand at 70 points, the lowest level since February 2016. As for the anticipated per capita income one year from now, it has posted a slight decline (3 points), but is still away by 16 points from last year’s May level. )Al Akhbar, June 10, 2017(

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Now for the good news on Lebanon economic performance

12-6-2017

Unlike previous pessimist data, (: http://bit.ly/2gFfLgd), newly released figures pointed to improvements in major economic indicators, including growth, balance of payments, foreign investment flows and expatriate remittances. The World Bank “Global Economic Prospects” report has anticipated an economic growth by 2.5% in 2017 and by 2.6% in 2018 and 2019 respectively, while the Lebanon weekly monitor released by Bank Audi Group, for the week of May 22- May 28, 2017, has shown that the financial inflows to the country amounted USD 4.8 billion during the first quarter of 2017, compared to USD 3.3 billion over the same period of last year, leading to a balance of payments surplus of USD 555 million during the first quarter of 2017, against a deficit of USD 644 million over the same period of last year. Meanwhile, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) figures published in the Byblos Bank Group weekly monitor, indicated that direct foreign investments into Lebanon have reached USD 2.56 billion in 2016, versus USD 2.35 billion in 2015, which has placed Lebanon as the fourth largest recipient of foreign investments in 2016 among 19 Arab states and 13 countries in West Asia. Also, Banque du Liban figures have shown an increase in expatriates transfers by 1.8% to reach USD 7.62 billion in 2016. On the other hand, Bank Byblos and Credit Libanais bulletins noted an increase of 2.7%i n overall public debt which reached USD 76.9 billion by the end of April 2017, compared to the end of 2016, and 7.3% from the end of April 2016. ( http://bit.ly/2gFfLgd)

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USD 2 million for civil advocacy from USAID

9-6-2017

In the presence of representatives of civil society groups and participating municipalities, USAID launched yesterday the civil society advocacy grants program in the framework of Building Alliances for Local Advancement, Development and Investment- Capacity Building (BALADI CAP) project. The US agency handed 13 civil society organizations a sum of USD 1.8 million to implement projects that promote human rights, governance and accountability, in addition to environment and solid waste management-related issues. According to a statement by USAID, the USD15 million worth of project provides tailored technical assistance to municipalities and civil society organizations to strengthen their internal systems and enhance their business performance and operations. The program also supports local civil society organizations networks in order to advocate for matters of public interest. Describing the advocacy program, the USAID statement said it is an important part of BALADI CAP initiative. The grants will boost the participation of citizens in public affairs and the creation of platforms for public debate, in addition to competition of ideas, the statement added. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, June 9, 2017)

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Salt revolution to protect Anfa salteries from extinction

9-6-2017

The Lebanese environmental activist Hafez Jreij cast yesterday an open letter to the public works minister, Yousef Finianos, asking him to be consistent in disciplining repeated encroachments on public beaches, particularly in Anfa, in the North. The architect of the ‘salt revolution’ demanded a fair treatment to the town of Anfa and its salt extraction heritage through a repeal of a decision to halt investments in seawater windmills in the area. While infringements along the Lebanese seashore by restaurants, resorts and factories continue unchecked, “the environment-friendly wind turbines that do not disturb the marine eco-system or distort the beauty of the sea are barred, Jreij stated. “Your excellence, we look up to you to give us a glimmer of hope and assurance to lift the siege on wind turbines resting along the rocky shores of Anfa since hundreds and thousands of years,” Jreij implored. Since 1952, the ministry of finance decided that windmills are an investment worthy of attention, continuity and support, and has as such regulated their operation and set schedules for collecting pertinent annual fees from the industry. “The windmills have seen a golden era. And in the seventies of the past century, the surface area occupied by the turbines reached one million square meters, thus meeting in full the country’s needs of salt,” Jreij boasted. Then, imported salt was subject to proper tariffs imposed to protect domestic production, he said, adding, “today made-in-Lebanon produce is being stalled in favor of imported low-quality Egyptian salt.” The environmental campaigner went on to say, “seawater mills are way better than any marine recreational undertaking. They extract a vital consumer product bound for multiple uses and industries. Windmills are a great heritage of Lebanon and a considerable economic production.” Windmills and sea salt constitute a national wealth, Jreij maintained, wondering, why Anfa in the coastal Kura district is being deprived of its basic natural resources?. (An Nahar, June 9, 2017)

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Cooperation between SEZ in Tripoli and municipalities to attract investors

8-6-2017

The General Authority of the Special Economic Zone in Tripoli (SEZ), the Tripoli Municipality and the Federation of Al Faihaa Municipalities signed yesterday a protocol of understanding and cooperation aimed at the development of the northern capital and environs in preparation for attracting investors. The tripartite agreement seeks to provide an appropriate environment for and ease the access of investments to needed facilities and services, thus contributing to the creation of jobs in the area. The three parties agreed to exchange expertise and set the necessary mechanisms to realize a number of goals, mainly: 1) cooperate with the Chamber of Tripoli, the private sector, international organizations and syndicates to draw an implementation plan for the training and building of cross-sectoral capacities of Lebanese labor force, mainly in trade and commerce, industry, construction, artisan and crafts, as such to match the work requirements of companies on the lookout for workers, and improve the skills of Lebanese laborers to be able to compete with foreign labor and give them an edge in employment prospects; 2) liaise with competent government departments and the private sector in order to set a final solution dynamics for removal of the trash mountain close to SEZ; 3) develop necessary schemes to regulate traffic between Al Faihaa cities and SEZ and facilitate trade exchange movement between SEZ and neighboring localities; 4) coordinate with local and international groups, public and private sector institutions, liberal professions unions, NGOs and economic bodies, and benefit from their proficiencies and prospective funding to secure the sought-for sustainable development for Tripoli and the North in general. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, June 8, 2017)

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