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14th traditional food festival for francophone countries

8-6-2017

The Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) organized yesterday the 14th Traditional Food Festival of Francophone Countries. Present were, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in Lebanon, Samuel Mcardashian, Ivory Coast Ambassador Counselor, Yaya Tour, and a number of diplomatic figures and representatives of participating embassies, students and faculty. To note, the event is part of a project on the subject of nutrition and its traditions offered by various universities. Each team of second year nutrition students decorated their pavilion with a country of their choice. Students cooked from its traditional cuisine and distributed a booklet which gives a historic, geographic and political overview of the country, with a thorough description of the selected dishes (ingredients, preparation method and the nutritionist value,) as well as, a folkloric art performance typical of the chosen country. A competent jury of faculty members will reportedly grade each contestant team. During the festival, the head of the organizing department, Rana Mahfuz, said the activity has become an annual ritual. It brings to light the link between culture and culinary art of each participating state and the symbolic correlation of some of its traditional recipes. The event also allows students and visitors to tour the world and taste some of the famous foods and beverages of the 14 countries partaking in the festival and they are: Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Cameron, Canada, Ivory Coast, France, Greece, Haiti, Madagascar, Morocco, Senegal, Switzerland and Vietnam. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, June 8, 2017)

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Lebanon may resort to trade barriers to safeguard its industry from external dumping

7-6-2017

Following continuous appeals to protect made-in-Lebanon goods from fierce foreign competition and from market dumping, and the repeated warnings Minister of Industry Hussein Haj Hassan about imbalances in world trade, the minister of economy and trade, Raed Khoury announced yesterday the completion of a working plan on the protection of 17 local products to this end. Khoury was speaking after a meeting with Haj Hassan who repeatedly cautioned against a defective imbalanced trade with a number of countries. The list prepared by the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA), and at the request of the Industry ministry, reportedly comprises the following items or sectors: iron, burghol, sugar, pasta, dairies and cheeses, biscuits, flour, marble and granite, corn flakes, aluminum profiles, duck liver, shotgun shells, detergents, sanitary, chicken, paper and tissue paper including egg crates, test liner paper and cardboard. To note, that LIA is currently compiling more files for additional industries, including furniture, footwear and clothing and protection glass. Discussions, Khoury said, also touched on ways to increase exports to Europe, while he disclosed that a letter has been sent two weeks ago to the European Union for this purpose. The meeting has also identified a list of specific basic products that need to be imported by the EU, Khoury added. The goods were chosen based on their competitive advantage internally, the minister stated, pointing out that protection will be realized through several measures, including the imposition or lifting of tariffs on similar goods imported by Lebanon, and the banning import from specific countries that continue to flood the domestic market with products. Meanwhile, the deficit in the trade balance continues to deepen. According to Customs Supreme Council figures, the deficit has soared to reach USD 5.40 billion during the first four months of 2017, up from USD 5.36 billion during the same period of the earlier year. The Customs attributed the rise to an increase by USD 133 million on an annual basis in the import bill to USD 6.36 billion, against an increase in exports of only USD 95 million to a gross of USD 965 million. (Annahar, Al Diyar and Al Mustaqbal 5 and 7 June , 2017) Previous related news: Renewed call for closing down Syrian businesses to protect Lebanese industry Minister Hajj Hassan reiterates from Rome his demand for access to European markets Haj Hassan reiterates his demand for better access to European markets

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Towards a national strategy for a sustainable tourism

6-6-2017

The secretary general of the Hotel Owners Association, Jean Beiruti, said yesterday Lebanon needs to expand its national touristic map, targeting the distinctive features of respective districts and regions. In his lecture at the University of Arts, Science and Technology in Lebanon (AUL) entitled, ‘a tourism strategy for sustainable tourism’, Beiruti brought up three prerequisites to achieve that. They are: Enlisting Lebanon as a global tourist destination, focusing on the fundamental aspects or qualities that mark Lebanon and the country’s preparedness in terms of national and tourism infrastructure. Expounding on the first principle, Beiruti urged travel operators and international flights agents to put Lebanon on the global map, underlining the important role of the International Forum for Tourism and Conferences held last month under the banner ‘Visit Lebanon’ with the participation of 150 global companies in the industry. The second principle relates to touristic attributes the country boasts, Beiruti explained. In light of the feedback and observations of above 150 international representatives, the Lebanese food, hospitality, nightlife venues and values, as well as communication skills of the tourism sector’s human resources, have proved the positive nature of these values. As such, and amidst a globalization bustle and collective tourism boom, Lebanon can come out of the masses and shine, Beiruti noted. As per the third principle, Beiruti spelled out a demand for a second airport that can accommodate charter jets, rehabilitated beaches, and a wide-ranging upgraded technology/ internet services. "We cannot expand the size of internal tourism and travel industry without solving these basic quandaries,” Beiruti warned. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 6, 2017)

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New US aid to promote rural livelihoods

6-6-2017

The director general of Lebanon Livelihoods and Inclusive Finance Expansion (LIFE), Mathew Lovick, exchanged yesterday a financial grant agreement with general director of the Lebanese Cooperative for Development (LCD), Serge Oweis. The purpose of the agreement is to enhance the livelihoods of residents of rural areas (the South, North and Beqaa), especially with the growing number of loan borrowers from LCD. Following the signing, Oweis said that LIFE’s initiative is a promising USAID-funded venture after the Lebanese Microfinance Investment-LMI project. “We should work hard and in a transparent manner to reach the set goals,” Oweis stated, pointing that LIFE is committed to the provision of technical and institutional assistance to LCD for the duration of the 5-year project. (Al Mustaqbal, June 6, 2017)

Previous related news: 
US financial grant to microfinance sector in Lebanon
USD20 million from USAID in support of microfinance
 

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MARSATI to rehabilitate human resources, create jobs

5-6-2017

The minister of public works and transportation, Youssef Finianos, launched on Friday the graduation ceremony from the Maritime Science and Technology Institute- MARSATI/Batroun of internal security forces ISF squads who completed a sea captain/maritime officer/mariner course bound to work on high seas explorer boats. The main goal of establishing said institute, Finianos maintained, is to rehabilitate operational maritime cadres and create new jobs in marine navigation, pointing that the cornerstone of MARSATI has been elaborated back in 2010. Then, Finianos maintained, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) included Lebanon in the ‘white list’ of member states in observance of standards of training, vacation, coastguards, marine traffic and the issuance of certificates for seafarers. The minister stressed the need to comply with international requirements to equip MARSATI with the necessary technical apparatus and complement it with the construction of a university-level academy in marine engineering and navigation. The sought-for facility is expected to offer a 4-year degree in one of the two areas: basic education for marine officers/mariners, and basic education for marine engineers, Finianos explained, noting that the Lebanese-issued certificates of qualification are internationally credited. He also pointed out that some 4344 students from 7 Arab countries have benefited so far from the courses or services of the Institute. (Al Mustaqbal, June 3, 2017)

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400 factories close in Lebanon because of unfavorable environment

5-6-2017

Al Diyar daily reported the shutdown of around 400 small and medium industrial factories in Lebanon over the past year, according to informed industry sources. The newspaper drew attention to earlier warnings by the industry minister about an imminent collapse of the sector, but these were taken lightly by concerned authorities. The newspaper wondered why the assigned economic ministerial committee under prime minister Hariri has not convened to date? Above sources disclosed that the ministry of trade and economy has received but did not respond to 16 complete industrial files that spelled out the weaknesses and challenges facing 17 industrial items presently at risk of either dumping or annihilation. The sources pointed out that industrialists continuously complain about the absence of a supportive environment at the MoT&E. They stressed the need to accelerate the adoption of measures that protect national industry, chiefly, the imposition and enforcement of tariffs on imported goods that can be fully produced or sufficiently processed in Lebanon. The government has a year before the parliamentary elections, which is enough to enact necessary protective procedures, the sources noted. (Al Diyar, June 3, 2017)

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US financial grant to microfinance sector in Lebanon

5-6-2017

The director general of Lebanon Livelihoods and Inclusive Finance Expansion (LIFE), Mathew Lovick, signed on Friday a financial grant agreement with the president of the Lebanese Microfinance Association (LMFA), Dr. Yussef Khalil. The agreement aims to secure the proper institutional and operational backing for the LMFA for the next 12 months. It also seeks to boost continued support from USAID to the Association since its inception on January 12, 2015 as the nation’s first microfinance body and official umbrella for 9-member establishments to date. It should be noted, that the purpose of the five-year USAID-funded LIFE initiative is to enhance livelihoods, advance the microfinance sector and expand inclusive finance in order to improve economic prospects targeting new projects and current beneficiaries of microfinance services. LIFE is also committed to the provision of ongoing technical and institutional assistance to LMFA during the duration of the project (2016-2021). (Al Mustaqbal, June 3, 2017)
 
Previous related news: 
USD20 million from USAID in support of microfinance
 

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Depressed real estate market restricted to small flats

2-6-2017

In an analysis yesterday of the real estate market in Lebanon, An Nahar newspaper noticed that the political breakthrough in the fourth quarter of 2016 has had a limited impact on the real estate market in the country. The situation worsened given the sluggish demand for residential property in the first quarter of the present year after a remarkable surge by 17.5% in the fourth quarter of 2016, according to Byblos Bank Real Estate Demand Index. The slowness in the market, An Nahar wrote, is attributed to the government’s emphasis on increasing taxes on consumption, income and profits in the first three months of 2017, in addition to the ceaseless political bickering over a new electoral law. Expounding on the subject, An Nahar spoke to the chief economist and head of economic research and analysis department at Byblos Bank Group, Nassib Ghobril, who said that consumers’ shy confidence which started in the fourth quarter of last year and affected the real estate sector, especially that demand for housing is primarily associated with consumer confidence levels, political stability and economic activity. The newspaper noted, that despite the 5-year stalemate, prices went down by only 20-25%, as per the vice-president of the Builders Association, Atef Dagher. This is mainly because former prices were inflated and higher than their normal rate, and have now retrieved to their acceptable average rate, given that property sellers abstain from selling if their profit is not adequate, Dagher observed. And while buyers interested in the 250 + square meter apartments are hesitant, the buying and selling movement is currently restricted to small flats. Big residential units, Dagher said, are still awaiting an end to the elections law deadlock. (An Nahar, June 1, 2017)

Previous related news:
Slow real estate market in Lebanon

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Prototype recycling of crispy apple chips

2-6-2017

Le Commerce du Levant drew attention to an exquisite brand by Samir Harfushe from Jezzine in the south, Pometto Apple Chips, processed through recycling marred apples that cannot be sold fresh to supermarkets. Elucidating his venture, Harfushe told Le Commerce that he exclusively uses Lebanese red apples, mainly Gala, and he buys the undisposed-of quantities without stopping at the poor look of the fruits, that, anyway, will be produced to a new product, as he said. Harfushe noted that in one year only, he purchased some 24 tons of unmarketed apples. With the emergence of the apple marketing crisis a year ago, Harfushe stated, Pometto came to mind. Enthralled with the idea, he decided to set up a factory in Jezzine with a personal capital of USD 30 thousand, plus another USD 11 thousand he received from the Italian Oxfam organization, which enabled him to equip the factory with high-tech machinery. Harfushe boasted to Le Commerce du Levant that his plant is the only one in the country that produces apple chips, mentioning that traditional mouneh coops are his sole competitors. Pometto, Harfushe concluded, is a healthy snack with no added sugar or preservatives. It is currently sold at 25 points of sale across Lebanon at just LBP 2500 the bag. (Le Commerce du Levant, May, 2017)

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Lebanon supports exporting factories and attracts foreign investments

2-6-2017

In its concerted efforts to revive national economy, Banque du Liban issued a circular which becomes effective as of Thursday June 8. The circular instructs banks to provide low interest loans for the operational capital of licensed industrial establishments to facilitate the export of their products. Said loans should not exceed LBP 3 million for a 3-year term, provided the interests, expenses and charges incurred do not go above 3%. Commenting on the decision, the president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, Fadi Gemayel, described it as extremely vital to the industrial sector, and is expected to generate significant incentives for the growth of industrial exports, that have seen a reduced value (by one third) as a result of losses (more than USD one billion) over the past five years. On the other hand, a recent study by Arab Net published by Bank Byblos weekly monitor, has shown that Lebanon came second in terms of the largest investments in technology startups out of 14 MENA countries during 2016 and attracted the second highest value for investments in the region in 2015 and 2016. According to the study, investment funds in the region made some 37 investments in technology companies in Lebanon during the year 2016 at a total value of USD 56 million. Lebanon also attracted close to 17% of the overall investments in emerging technology startups MENA region during 2016. These investments in Lebanon have accounted for nearly 6.1% of the total regional investments during the same year. (Al Diyar, Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, June 2, 2017)

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