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First organic soap workshop

15-5-2017

Badr Hassun Eco-Village inaugurated last Saturday a workshop in Dahr el Ain in Koora for the manufacture of environmental friendly organic soap and essential oils which is the first globally. After a tour to the village and the permanent exhibition, Badr Hassun said: “We have turned the traditional craft into a Lebanese cultural speciality roaming the world.” He pointed out that the workshop has a capacity to produce over 1,400 varieties of soaps and aromatic oils from herbs planted naturally and organically in the village’s eco garden. These products are now on display in famous local and world hospitals and hotels, Hassun explained, urging local customers to contribute to the promotion of heritage products as a vehicle to promote the national industry. He demanded that Lebanese people join forces to support their industry which has become known over the globe as a “Lebanese green industry”. The labor minister, Mohammad Kabbara, who was present at the opening ceremony, praised all hardworking hands throughout generations who have turned this profession into a flourishing trade that has never stopped growing, pressing the need to protect it. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, May 14, 2017)

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Renewed call for closing down Syrian businesses to protect Lebanese industry

12-5-2017

The Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA) has transformed what it called an “urge” to salvage Lebanon’s industrial sector into a “plea” against it, according to Al Akhbar today. The newspaper criticized a press conference on Tuesday held by LIA Head, Nadim Gemayel, in the presence of the ministers of industry and economy, which called for the closure of all illegitimate factories and plants set up by displaced Syrians across the country. It considered the LIA appeal as a serious shift from a ceaseless demand in favor of protection and advancement of national industry into a request to shut down existing factories. A call, Al Akhbar wrote, that turned a blind eye to the establishment of new facilities, or fixing the status of illegal ones, and facilitation of Syrian investment in the Lebanese industry through easing the transfer of expertise and creating more jobs provided by their establishments. Al Akhbar maintained that the roots of the industrial crisis digs deep in history and is not essentially related to the presence of legal or illegal Syrian institutions, referring to World Bank figures which recorded a decline from12.5% in 1997 to 8.8% in 2009 in the share of industry in the GDP. This explains, according to Al Akhbar, that the fall in industry indices has preceded and is unrelated to the Syrian exodus. While the average GDP growth in the mentioned period (1997-2009) was estimated at 3.7%, the average growth of industry posted 1.7%, the second lowest growth rate among sectors after agriculture (1.1%) (WB figures). The newspaper went on to say, that instead of focusing on the real causes of the crisis, the industry minister Hajj Hassan disclosed that he ordered the closure of all illegitimate factories in Beqaa, and was fully backed by his economy counterpart, who urged relevant municipalities to cooperate to this effect. (Al Akhbar, May 12, 2017)

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2017 Aley trade, industrial and tourism fair

11-5-2017

In partnership with the municipality of Aley, Mount Lebanon, Aley Traders’ Association announced the launch of the trade, industrial and tourism fair from July 27 to July 30. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Beirut and Mount Lebanon in the presence of the president of the Federation of Lebanese Chambers, Mohammad Shukair, former minister, Akram Shehayeb and the head of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, Fadi Gemayel. Shukair described the event as an exceptional economic landmark in the area which is expected to contribute to attracting visitors from Lebanon and abroad and fuel the economic activity, locally. Shukair pressed the need to restore the positive atmosphere which attracts Arab Gulf tourists, who, he stated, bring back the lifeline of tourism to the country, namely to the towns and villages of Mount Lebanon. Likewise, Gemayel, said organizing the exhibition in the heart of the summer season is an added value to Aley, for it will reinstate the Mount Lebanon town’s leading economic locus, besides its touristic charm. Shehayeb, for his part, underlined the economic and cultural significance of similar events, especially in exposing Lebanon’s vigor at all levels. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, May 11, 2017)

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Good summer prospects for tourism in Lebanon

11-5-2017

A study by the multinational professional services firm, Ernst & Young, has shown a remarkable surge in the occupancy rates of 4 and 5 star hotels in the capital Beirut. The Middle East Hotel Benchmark Survey reported a 61.1% rate in the first quarter of the present year (the 7th highest in the region) against a 54.4% in the same period of last year (the 4th lowest). This positive outlook in the tourism industry, namely in the upcoming period, has been supported by tourism ministry figures which indicated a growth in the incoming travelers to Lebanon in the first quarter of 2017 at 12.61% compared to 2016. In this context, the head of Lebanon’s federation of touristic firms pointed to a robust and confident start in preparations for the reception of tourists and expatriates within the few coming weeks, particularly after the return of security and political stability and the lifting of the Arab Gulf ban on Lebanon. He revealed a 30% increase in hotels occupancy until the end of April as compared to the same period of the past year. Similarly, touristic federation figures displayed a buildup in reservations requests from 50% to 60% for the months of July and August 2017, anticipating a further increase at the end of the month of Ramadan. Beiruti praised the individual initiatives on the part of touristic establishments in attracting and motivating travelers to visit Lebanon, especially that the tourism ministry’s promotional campaign ‘Visit Lebanon 2017’ came late. The implementation of said project started with the beginning of the season, the fact that demoted its anticipated positive impact, Beiruti concluded. For his part, the chief of Syndicate of Owners of Hotels seemed hopeful of an inspiring summer that will witness the flocking of tourists to the country. (An Nahar, May 11, 2017)

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“Lebanese Municipal Agenda”: ICT portal in the service of citizens

10-5-2017

For the first time in Lebanon, the Agenda Municipal Libanais officially launched on May 1st its electronic portal http://www.agendamunicipallibanais.com/ that promotes the work of municipalities across Lebanon through a range of services and benefits, according to An Nahar today. The newspaper drew attention to the mastermind behind the idea, Abir Khoury Jbeily, a woman with 11 years of experience in municipal affairs and, namely, protocol management at Zuk Mkhail municipality. Khoury, who also owns and runs a 1-year-old company, Eventigani, spoke to An Nahar about this innovative venture. After a long and arduous journey in municipal work, it is difficult to attain a high level of success in the field, particularly that “we do not know what municipalities accomplish at the level of the nation”, Khoury told An Nahar reporter. She pointed out that this site brings all the municipalities together under one umbrella and acts as a liaison extending to them an opportunity to cooperate locally and globally and publicize their agendas and activities. It also informs Lebanese emigrants on all the forthcoming summer events and festivals planned by each municipality. Jbeily noted that services on the calendar section of the website are free for any municipality wishing to advertise, and communicate through the hotline its events and activities, and publish them on the platform. The agenda, Jbeili explained, provides the writing, editing and translation of speeches, documents and correspondences, as well as project management, twinning, design and distribution of brochures, books, while ensuring the quality and speed of delivery at affordable prices. (An Nahar, May 10, 2017(

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Unequal wages for private sector employees in Lebanon

10-5-2017

The little available data on inequalities in Lebanon has shown large disparities in the distribution of wages, according to Al Akhbar newspaper. While Credit Suisse Bank figures indicated that only 0.3% of Lebanese own 48% of local wealth, a joint study by the Finance Ministry and UNDP pointed out in 2015 that the wage crisis in Lebanon is not only limited to a decline (from 35% in the nineties of the last century to a current 20%) in the share of the GDP, but also has to do with inequality in the distribution of income among wage earners. The said study maintained an oscillation in private sector wages between an average high of LBP 221 million (USD 147.33) annually, that is equivalent to LBP 18.5 million (USD 12,333) per month, and roughly 27.28 times the minimum wage (LBP 675,000), and an average low of LBP 3 million (USD 2000) annually, equivalent to LBP 250,000 (USD 166.6) per month, representing only one third of the minimum wage. The above study has also shown that the 2% private sector income group accounts for 17% of the total declared wages, against a 22% share for the bottom 59% of the sector’s labor force. Disparities, the study reported, are outsized among informal and self-employed groups, as they embrace researchers, freelancers and entrepreneurs (account for 6.3% of private sector workforce), in addition to day laborers (81.5%). As such, the study analyzed, the bottom segment which comprises around 25.4% of taxpayers (receive less than LBP 6 million (USD 4 thousand) per year and less than 4% of the total income declared for this category. The upper segment, on the other hand, generating incomes starting from LBP 60 million (USD 40 thousand) per year up to LBP 120 million (USD 80 thousand), dominates about 46.7% of the total incomes. The survey has shown that disparities widen with careful examination of the shares of high income earners, noting that the share of the 1.4% of the private sector workforce (among the 6.3% segment) has reached 14% of the total incomes declared. (For more on the UNDP/ Finance Ministry study, please visit the following link: https://www.al-akhbar.com/node/276951)

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New NGO program to develop farmers’ skills

10-5-2017

George N. Frem Foundation kicked off its new program yesterday, ‘development of capacities of producers in managing their projects’. The initiative comes in line with the Foundation’s vision and mission to improve the livelihoods of rural farmers and create economic opportunities for agricultural stakeholders. The program is aimed at enhancing the administrative capacities of producers in order to properly manage their schemes through targeted workshops on topics related to agricultural entrepreneurship. Topics include: requirements of agricultural entrepreneurship, book keeping, analysis of production costs and pricing, sales and marketing, investment, besides applied exercises focused on linking of acquired skills directly with agricultural schemes of participants. With the completion of the 5-week course, beneficiaries and farmers from the different Lebanese regions shall receive certificates of attendance and participation in, addition to a booklet of attendance, participation and an information and application booklet. (Al Diyar, May 10, 2017)

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‘Mishwar in Tripoli’ to stimulate local economy

10-5-2017

“Rebranding Tripoli” organized yesterday a recreational activity, ‘Mishwar in Tripoli’ under the sponsorship of mayor of the North, Ramsey Nahra. The event comprised an exhibition of local food goods, basically traditional home cooked dishes and all varieties of Lebanese fruits, and assigned a special area to teach old-style distilling and making of rose water, in addition to amusement games and a music show. Nahra on the occasion underlined the significance of similar initiatives in sustaining the nature of the northern capital as a distinctive city of tourism, joy and peace. He called on all the people of Lebanon and visitors to come to Tripoli and partake in its year-round festivities. For his part, Tawfic Dabbusi, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Tripoli, pointed out that the Chamber provides support to activities that stimulate the economic cycle, boasting that the ultimate goal is to promote Tripoli to become the country’s economic hub. (Al Mustaqbal, May 10, 2017)

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Slow real estate market in Lebanon

9-5-2017

An Nahar newspaper drew attention today to a slowdown in the real estate market despite the relatively stable conditions, due mainly to the persisting political tension. An Nahar stressed that sluggishness in the industry is visible in new construction projects, and in the slowdown in projects under construction. The reason, the newspaper wrote, is a decline in the number of potential investors. On the subject, An Nahar spoke to Marun Helu, Head of Contractors, who pointed to the waning interest of most of the Lebanese buyers to purchase apartments under construction for lack of trust in developers. Helu said the Lebanese prefer to pay for finished ready-to-live-in-flats, added to it the absence of buyers from Arab countries, as well as Lebanese expatriates in the Arab Gulf and Africa. Helu also referred to various internal factors that negatively affect an already depressed real estate market. These include the worrying financial situation of public finances, lack of infrastructure development and the absence of growth in national economy, factors which affected real estate prices that fell by 20% to 30%. According to real estate specialist, Raja Makarem, the future of the industry is far from promising, with limited sales transactions and a handful of few under-construction projects, hoping that a political breakthrough will resolve the present crisis. In its analysis, An Nahar said the real estate market has entered a period of depression since 2015, pointing to a regression in construction of residential areas in Beirut, where the number of unsold meters (of finished and unfinished apartments ) stood at 2 million and 200 thousand square meters for areas worth USD 3,000. A recent office market study by Ramco has shown a 2% drop in inventory of offices under construction in 2017 compared to 2015, and a drop in prices and rate of sales in completed projects. (An Nahar, May 9, 2017)

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Apple farmers protest shrinking compensation

9-5-2017

Last Thursday turned into a long day of dissent by apple growers after they queued for long hours to receive their compensation cheques at the designated Internal Security Forces offices (in Akkar, 2 centers and Kesrouan and Matn areas, 1 center each) only to be disappointed that the sums released by the Higher Relief Council (HRC) were not consistent with the size of their supplies. To recall, the government had pledged to compensate LBP 5000 for each apple carton, but the amount was cut by 25%, thus settling the compensated carton at LBP 3,750, which will be paid in 2 equal installments. As such, apple growers received between LBP 1000 and 600 instead of LBP 1800 per box. According to the final report by the Lebanese Army assessment committee, apple cartons totaled 10 million and 600 thousand supplied by some 23,000 farmers, while noting that the government initially allocated LBP 40 billion, which required cutting the compensated amount per carton. In this respect, the Lebanese Farmers Association president, Antoine Howayek, explained the motives behind the above protests which he said are twofold. First, the cheques were transferred through the ISF instead of the municipalities, where each ISF center had to receive close to 3000 apple growers in one day with all the humiliation involved on the part of farmers, and second, the reduced sums frustrated recipient farmers. Howayek uncovered that HRC director, General Mohamad Kheir, had refused to hand over the above report to ensure the validity of the amounts, calling on the judiciary to intervene in this issue, accusing the HRC of having no supervisory authority to control its work. For his part, Kheir denied the accusations against HRC’s lack of transparency, confirming that the sums have been disbursed in line with the Army’s surveys, and urging protestors to inquire with Ain Remmaneh Army station. Kheir made clear that farmers will receive the second installment in one month time. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, Al Akhbar, May 6, 8, 9, 2017)
 

Previous related news: 
Akkar apple growers receive part of compensation
Apple farmers extend a 10 day ultimatum to government
Apple growers to the streets again to claim their compensation entitlements
Local farmers still awaiting their entitlements
Reimbursement of apple growers and the plight of potato growers in Akkar
Back to square one concerning citrus and apple marketing
Agriculture of Lebanon further deteriorates in 2016

 

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