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Cabinet extends maritime export bridge one more year

1-6-2017

After the Cabinet’s decision of May 17th to continue its support for the sea bridge export programme implemented by the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon, IDAL’s president Nabil Itani, announced a one-year extension (at a cost of LBP 21 billion) of the said plan. The period will start as soon as the allocations are secured, Itani said, noting that the programme, launched back in 2015 and renewed until March this year, was assigned an equal sum of LBP 21 billion (USD 14 million). IDAL head underlined the stepping up of efforts to restore work with the maritime bridge, disclosing that the government has decided to earmark LBP 14.5 in 2017, while the remaining amount will be deducted from the 2018 budget. Itani boasted that the sea bridge which, since 2015 has exported close to 81 thousand tons of made-in-Lebanon industrial and agricultural products, is expected to export between 50 to 60 thousand tons from the date of securing the allocations until the end of this year. Itani stressed the importance of this step which, he said, shall contribute to the continued export of Lebanese produce, ad prevent possible recession or destruction of the seasons with the resulting considerable losses on farmers. (Al Mustaqbal, June 1, 2017

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Pan Arab startup competition

1-6-2017

In collaboration with the MIT Enterprise Forum- Pan Arab Region, and in partnership with Bank Audi, the Beirut Traders Association (BTA) launched yesterday the sixth edition of the ‘Grow My Business’ competition. Relying on the success of the five past editions, the initiative seeks to help startups grow and expand in the right direction. For this to be achieved, Lebanese entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are called upon to create development plans which will inspire their businesses and move them forward. As usual every year, applicants wishing to participate, are called to download the forms from the website ttp://www.growmybusiness.me, following which, a competent jury panel will shortlist the top 15 candidates in August 2017. In the second stage of selection, the nominees will attend a 2-day workshop organized by a number of experts and professors on how to develop a successful business plan. Five best contestants will then be shortlisted by a carefully selected jury to undergo the final assessment through oral presentations. In light of these guidance sessions, the jury will announce the three winners in November 2017 who will reap from Bank Audi prizes worth of LBP 15 million, LBP 30 million and LBP 50 million respectively. During the launching event, the BTA chairperson, Nicolas Shammas, underlined the purpose of the competition which is “to give SMEs a substantial added value, enhance the professional standards of the commercial sector and contribute to the sustainable development of the national economy.” (Al Mustaqbal, June 1, 2017)

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Shura annuls the minimum wage reduction

31-5-2017

The State Shura Council issued a decision on April 26 repealing an earlier decree to reduce the minimum wage to LBP 26000 instead of LBP 30000. In June 2016, the cabinet had ratified the amendment of a decree in 2012 (which set the official daily wage of workers and employees at LBP 30,000, as advised by then labor minister, Dr. Charbel Nahas), to become LBP 26,000, under then labor minister Sajaan Azzi. The latter’s decision, it should be noted, reportedly came to correct an alleged mathematical error made in 2012 in calculating the month and days ( http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/15416). In a summary of the Shura Council decision, it said that it came to refute labor ministry ‘computational error’ justifications issued at the time, and to stress that the cabinet’s decision not in favour of the marginalized working classes and which reduced their minimum daily wage without any legal or realistic explanation of the reduction, particularly amidst an enlarged cost of living index, constitutes as viewed by the Shura Council, a contradiction of the principles derived from the Constitution and the relevant international conventions. The new decision comes in response to two revisions filed to the Shura Council requesting repeal of the said decree. The first was submitted by the National Federation of Worker and Employee Unions in Lebanon (FENASOL), and the second from president of Lebanon’s Public Drivers of Land Transport Union, Abel Amir Najdeh. Najdeh clarified that determining the official minimum wage is not a “discretionary action by the government, but is mandated in relation to the cost of living index, and is based on studies and tables of the cost of living fluctuations.” The decision to reduce the workers' daily wage, Najdi noted, was a manipulation by specific governmental departments and independent institutions that accommodate large numbers of daily wage-earners who are subject to the labor law. On the subject, the Federation’s president, Castro Abdallah, said yesterday that the Shura Council’s decision did justice to the workers and to the daily workers in Lebanon against the arbitrary measures stipulated by the former government and which, in fact, have become a trademark of the successive governments irresponsible towards and oblivious of the interests of the working classes. Abdallah was speaking during a press conference held with the participation of Citizens within a State movement and the Legal Agenda. (Al Akhbar, L’Orient Le Jour, May 31, 2017)

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National economy still in the red despite some recent improvements

31-5-2017

The Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL) figures have shown an increase in the overall public debt in Lebanon by USD 1.02 billion during March, 2017, reaching USD 77.17 billion, from USD 76.13 in February. On an annual level, the public debt increased by USD 6.12 billion as compared to its level in 2016 (USD 71.05 billion). The share of the banking sector from the overall debt has grown to 48.91% in March against 47.82% in February, according to ABL statistics. Moreover, the World Bank has lowered its estimation of the inflow of remittances of Lebanese expatriates to USD 7.3 billion in 2016, down from its October USD 7.6 billion estimates. In terms of foreign trade, a report prepared by the Industrial Information Department at the ministry of industry has indicated a drop by nearly 11.7% in exports during the first two months of 2017, standing at USD 372.6 million, against USD 422 million during the same period of 2016. On the other side, Fransabank economic bulletin (for the first quarter of the present year) noted a slight improvement in the performance of the Lebanese economy during the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of the year before. Most of productive and service sectors, the bulletin said, recorded some expansion in activity. As such, growth was noted in the value of agricultural and industrial exports (10.1%); real estate sales value (14.3%); the number of incoming travelers to Lebanon through Beirut Airport (0.1%); the volume of goods through Beirut Port (0.3%), the total number of tourists (12.6%) and their expenditures  (8%), during the said period. )Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, May 15, 18, 23, 24, 2017(
 
Previous related links:
$7.3 billion in remittances from Lebanese expatriates
 News of decline of remittances and transfers provoke bankers
USD188 billion in bank assets while Lebanon still survives on transfers of expatriates
 

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Ethiopian woman domestic worker suspected of murder in Jibal al Botm

30-5-2017

The phenomenon of violence in Lebanon carries on unchecked. Salman, 86 years, father of Zeid Khiami, director general of the Youth and Sports Ministry, was found dead at his house in Jibal al Botm, in the South. Security sources have said that initial information on the death reported that Salman Khiami was stabbed with a knife on the neck by Ethiopian domestic worker who fled to an unknown destination. The Attorney General of the South, Judge Rahif Ramadan, who examined the scene of the crime disclosed that the victim was repeatedly beaten with a sharp tool on his neck and bled to death. He announced that investigation is ongoing to uncover the circumstances which led to the crime. “We have some doubts, and we will continue with our investigations to substantiate them, and have, to this end, assigned the criminal evidence investigation department and the forensic specialist to identify the motives of the crime,” Judge Ramadan said. The ISF general directorate has circulated the suspect’s photo appealing to anyone who sees her or have any information regarding her whereabouts to contact Jwaya regional gendarmerie unit. )Al Mustaqbal, May 30, 2017(

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Israeli wonder woman banned in Lebanon

30-5-2017

The ministry of economy and trade (MoE&T) announced yesterday that it will start procedures to ban the ‘wonder woman’ movie from being screened across Lebanese theatres this Thursday. The MoE&T clarified in a statement that it had prepared a letter to the General Directorate of Security to take the necessary measures to this effect on grounds that the superhero is played by Israeli actress Gal Gadot. This ban coincides with the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel in Lebanon’s note in this regard to the ‘Boycott of Israel’s Office’ at the ministry. The MoE&T statement released in a tweet by minister Raed Khoury mentioned that the ministry has taken similar actions in the past to stop films cast by above leading actress, namely Batman V Superman in March, 2016. Khoury pointed to an earlier request sent to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) office in Damascus to add Gal Gadot’s name to a blacklist for boycott. To be noted, Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress and model, and Miss Israel for 2004, has served in the Israeli Occupation Army for two years and is brazenly known as a staunch supporter of the IDF, particularly in the wake of Israel’s latest aggression against Gaza. (L’Orient Le Jour, May 30, 2017)

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Hariri promises to help the youth in financing their projects

29-5-2017

The American University of Beirut (AUB) hosted the Imagine Cup 2017 Middle East and Africa regional finals from May 17 to 20. Microsoft and the US Department of State’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) announced the 6 winning teams in the competition who will head to Seattle for the 15th Imagine Cup World finals where they will be awarded USD 100,000, USD 25,000 and USD 15,000 respectively. The finals presented 47 students in 17 teams representing Lebanon, Jordan, West Bank and Gaza, Tunisia, Turkey, Pakistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Morocco, Qatar, Oman, Nigeria, Algeria and Saudi Arabia. The event was held under the patronage of Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, who expressed pride over the ground-breaking accomplishments of Lebanon and the Arab World’s young generations, saying concerted efforts should target the youth who are the core of progress, as he put it. Hariri also emphasized the need to reduce internet costs, disclosing that the issue will be presented at the Cabinet’s meeting next week or the week after. He promised to work to find a donor to finance or help in development of the projects of young innovators. To note, the winning team are: DocStroke (Jordan), Blink (Lebanon), Green Jam (UAE), Beta Team (Oman), E-park (Morocco) and Team WaCoMo (Qatar). )Al Mustaqbal, May 21, 2017)

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Youth vocational training center at Tripoli Chamber

29-5-2017

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Tripoli and the North, represented by its President, Tawfic Dabusi, launched on Saturday the vocational and technical center, under the auspices of labor minister Mohamad Kabbara. On the occasion, Kabbara hailed the Chamber’s initiative in organizing training courses targeted to boost productive potentials of the youth in preparation for a career across the various agricultural, industrial and trade labor market sectors. Kabbara advised that training should observe the conformity between the actual labor force and the real requirements of the labor market. “This prompts common challenges that necessitate building the capacities and skills of fresh graduates in accordance with labor market demands. The minister also maintained that the lack of educational guidance and orientation based on labor market needs is the main cause of the existing workforce- labor market imbalance. He called for instituting a groundwork for educational policies that promote technical and vocational teaching in order to reduce the flight of young labor force. During the inauguration of the center, the labor ministry and the Chamber signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at partnering in the training and rehabilitation of skilled labor to the end of realizing a balanced labor input/ educational output structure. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, May 28, 2017)

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Multilateral efforts to promote tourism in Lebanon

29-5-2017

The ministry of tourism concluded yesterday the first international forum for tourism and conferences, ‘Visit Lebanon’ held on May 25 at Le Royal- Dbayeh hotel, Beirut. Around 150 world companies in tourism promotion and tours, conference and events organizing attended the forum which main aim is to create a convenient exchange platform that ideally reflects the country’s potentials as an all-encompassing touristic destination. On the opening day, tourism minister Avedis Guidanian, pointed out that Lebanon has never lost its leadership in the industry. This, he said, is demonstrated by the flocking of over 1000 tourism, travel and tour operating agencies from 70 countries around the world to participate in the forum, 150 of which were shortlisted from some 40 countries to participate. The forum activities included organizing of tours inside Lebanon, namely to Baalbaq, Shuf, Bsharreh, Cedars, Beitiddine, Keserwan, and Harissa. Participants stressed the need to reinstate Lebanon on the global tourism map as a new destination set to attract tourist groups from China, Russia, the Netherlands, Ukraine and Arab countries that are widely represented by their native companies in Lebanon. On the sidelines of the forum, the syndicate of owners of restaurants, cafes and night clubs launched a promotional ‘touristic food package’ (USD 15-18 per meal), as part of a comprehensive package comprising flight, accommodation and meals. In the same vein, Guidanian and USAID Mission Director, Dr. Anne Patterson, inaugurated on May 24 ‘Travel Lebanon’ exhibition held within the framework of the Beirut Garden Show at the Beirut Hippodrome. The event is organized for the fourth consecutive year by Hospitality Services with support from USAID-funded Lebanon Industry Value Chain Development (LIVCD) and the cooperation of the ministry of tourism. More than 50 tourism companies from across Lebanon have showcased their activities and services in the event which lasted from May 23 till May 27. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, May 19 and 28, 2017)

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Training center for wood industry in Zghorta

26-5-2017

In cooperation with the Lebanese ministry of industry, the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) launched on Monday the ‘vocational training center for wood industries’ at the Zghorta Public Technical Institute’. The opening took place under the auspices of minister, Hussein Haj Hassan, and the presence of Japanese Ambassador to Lebanon, Masahiro Yamagyshi, as well as a group of concerned parties.  To note, UNIDO and the Directorate for Vocational and Technical Education have rehabilitated the center, which is considered first of its kind in North Lebanon in promoting exchange of knowledge in the field of furniture manufacture. The center’s aims are:  provision of top-notch equipment needed for the development of skills for carpentry technicians; an upgrade of educational curricula with a focus on various topics, like for example, learning about the basic raw materials and machinery used in the industry; guidance and instruction on the ABCs of safety and health involved in the wood industry, and the application of innovative methods and modus operandi to achieve all the above. As a result, around 100 young men and women beneficiaries will take part in 4-month training course, at the end of which they will receive official certificates. On the occasion, UNIDO representative, Cristiano Pasini, said: “Today, we are laying the grounds for a long-term contribution and cooperation to achieve sustainable livelihoods, capacity building and skills development in the furniture sector,” adding, this is necessary to facilitate the country’s comprehensive industrialization process. Through this center, Pasini stated, “we not only extend technical assistance, but also support the cultivation of youth skills through targeted programs that will increases the prospects of their employment.” (Al Mustaqbal, May 25, 2017)

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