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University-industrial ICT cooperation on employment

25-2-2020

The ministry industry and the office of the minister for administrative development approved last week the final design of the “Digital Platform for University-Industrial Cooperation” funded by the EU and implemented by the British Crown Agents development company. As part of the Project Technical Assistance Facility for the Government of Lebanon, the platform aims to set up a data bank at the ministry of industry, Crown Agents director, Peter Salloum explained. The bank will provide a mechanism for collaboration, coordination and exchange between industrialists and universities in order to update curricula and educational opportunities to suit the needs of the labor market in the industrial sector, Salloum said. What is most important, he added, is sustainability of this mechanism. Exchanging information has become a revolution which transformed concepts involving it but that it has not adapted properly. For his part, the director general of industry, Dany Gadoun, pointed out that the above platform will be of mutual benefit for universities and industrialists. He noted that his ministry seeks to become an incubator for data concerning the needs, products and development prospects of the industrial sector, as well as the universities, students and graduates and the disciplines that match the needs of industrial establishments for labor. (Al Diyar, February 21, 2020)

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Lebanese startups at Saudi Investment Forum

21-2-2020

A group of promising Lebanese startups will take part in the upcoming Investment Forum for Startups to be held in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia from March 5 to 7, 2020. The forum is a platform that brings together entrepreneurs from various sectors with investors inside the Kingdom and an opportunity to expand their business in S.A. About 60 innovative startup companies from Lebanon, Egypt, UAE, Turkey, Greece, Poland and other countries will be present at the forum which is held within the MIT competition for startups. It is intended to attract new ideas and leading commercial and social startups, as well as provide a platform to showcase their projects and enhance their role in the future innovative entrepreneurship circle in the Kingdom. Winners of the competition will be announced on March 7 within the annual Smart Start conference which hosts a group of renown speakers in entrepreneurship from the Arab countries and the world. (An Nahar, February 21, 2020)

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Badaro Market & food waste awareness

20-2-2020

In its edition of today, L’Orient Le Jour spotlighted an initiative by Philippe Rahbeh which addresses food loss and waste. Named ‘Too good to waste’, the project aims to reduce around 10,000 tons of food waste in order to eliminate poverty and alter the prevailing mentality of food management. When he opened his organic goods store, Rahbeh recounted, he noticed the massive amounts of squandered food leftovers, and decided to deliver it to needy residents of his neighborhood. Later, Rahbeh added, he kicked off “Disco Soup” initiative that was first launched in Germany, 2011, to pick up and rescue leftover food by turning it to free meals for the poor. In January, 2019, Rahbe said, he started his first “Disco Soup” in Badaro Farmers Market. He used some 50 kgs of leftover vegetables collected from stores around Beirut to prepare and distribute soups and salads free of charge to Badaro Market goers to raise awareness for food waste. (L’Orient Le Jour, February 20, 2020)

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Import of Egyptian potatoes suspended and quantities reduced in favor of local production

12-2-2020

The minister of agriculture Abbas Mortada announced Monday a decision to freeze the import of potatoes from Egypt until February 18, that is 18 days from the normal date, giving only one month to import this produce and at a reduced quantity, 25,000 tons as the limit. Lebanon, Mortada said, will continue to export vegetables and fruits, namely apples, grapes and cherries to the North African country, noting that the above decision was made in consultation with the Egyptian counterpart and taking into consideration quantities in refrigerated warehouses, market needs and associated increase in prices. For his part, the head of the Syndicate of Potato Farmers in the Beqaa, George Sakr, praised the ministry’s efforts to help in marketing local production and protecting the Beqaa and Akkar potato harvest. Such decision, Sakr maintained, is unprecedented since the signing of the Lebanese-Egyptian agreements to this effect. Recalling, that potato growers have set yesterday as the date for a strike across Lebanon to protest their inability to market their produce, demanding the minister of agriculture to immediately stop imports of Egyptian potatoes. They canceled the strike after the minister’s decision. Mortada has earlier on February 9 warned of an imminent increase of the price of one kg of local potato to LBP 4000 as a result of anticipated escalation by some farmers, disclosing that a campaign of intimidation and pressure has targeted his ministry. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, February 12, 2020)

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Ministerial committee for food security, cooperation with Germany in food industries

6-2-2020

The head of the Association for the Importers and Traders of Agricultural Production Requirements in Lebanon, head of the Agriculture Committee at Lebanon’s Chamber, Michel Akl, held a press conference yesterday under the theme, ‘The impact of public debt and banking measures on the agricultural sector in Lebanon’. Akl pointed out that past economic policies have long relinquished the national productive sectors, and at the same time, did not revise or upgrade trade agreements, hence causing a decline in investments in productive sectors of commodities and services while boosting interests. The work of the agriculture ministry in the wake of the cabinet’s winning confidence should focus on restoring the role of agriculture within the national economic cycle and the provision of food security for all of Lebanon, Akl maintained. For his part, the director general of the ministry of agriculture, Louis Lahud, disclosed that a committee for food security has been formed by the current minister of agriculture and culture, Abbas Mortada. On the other hand, the head of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli and the North, Toufic Dabousi, met yesterday with a delegation of the German Agency for International Development (GIZ). Agreement was reached to put into practice priorities that underpin GIZ’s prospects in food industries, especially in the milk, apple and olive sectors. (Al Diyar, February, 5, 6, 2020)

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Ministerial statement to promote and protect agriculture

4-2-2020

The draft ministerial statement mentioned agriculture in two of its clauses. The first encouraged traditional agriculture, like tobacco, citrus, apples, grains and grapevine, in addition to promoting agricultural extension, rural preparedness, collaboration with the Customs to control smuggling of agricultural goods and lastly animal husbandry. The second clause involved boosting exports through support to local industries, agriculture and services, in addition to the enforcement of exceptional tax measures. In a related vein, and in its issue of January 28, An Nahar mentioned the draft law which criminalized acts of smuggling, that was sent on January 9 to the former minister of finance by the Regie to be referred to the cabinet and the legislature for approval. The spurt of events and the resignation of the previous government has, however, obstructed this, An Nahar said. According to the proposed law, any party found to import or attempt to import tobacco products by way of smuggling will be penalized by three months to three year-imprisonment and fined with LBP 1 million to 5 million. Meanwhile, the Regie chairman, Nassif Seqlawi, stood firm with the requests of a delegation of industrialists who visited him on January 28 demanding priority to domestic production in purchasing raw material for the tobacco industry. On the other hand, the new minister of agriculture, Abbas Murtada, on January 29, underlined the importance of regulating fishery and improving fishermen’s capacities, besides the strict application of protection standards and the benefits expanded to fishermen as a result of this compliance. To name some, the ban of the use of drift nets and speeding up approval of the draft bill prepared by the ministry related to aquaculture. On the same day, Murtada announced the launch of a hotline for receiving complaints by citizens, clarifying that every Lebanese can be a partner to support agricultural production and defend national economic. The hotline: 01/1664621 - 01 / 821300. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, January 28, 30 and February 3, 2020)

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European funding to civil organizations, SMEs

29-1-2020

The French Development Agency, the French Agency for International Technical Expertise (Expertise France) and the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) launched yesterday their joint project ‘Network’. The latter is aimed to develop the organizational capacities of civil society organizations in Lebanon to help them implement their plans, namely those that serve the most vulnerable persons, including marginalized women and girls across Lebanon, as well as Syrian women refugees. A joint financing of 8 million euros was allocated over a 3-year period to 7 NGOs, namely: Insan Association, Digital Opportunity Trust, Al Najdeh Association, Ruwwad Lebanon, Fair Trade Lebanon and Akkar Network for Development. These NGOs operate mainly in sectors, like education, fair trade development, digital technology and support for displaced persons, refugees, and marginalized women and girls. During the launch ceremony, event organizers released a statement noting that Lebanese NGOs play a fundamental role in addressing challenges facing the country, adding that the dependence of these organizations on financial aid from international donors reflects organizational problems they face. On the other hand, Expertise France concluded yesterday the activities of its EU-funded program which started in 2016 for the development of the private sector. To recall, said program assigned 15 million euros for restructuring or regrouping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within stronger groups in order to use the resources and incomes more successfully and cost effectively, in addition to expanding their market and facilitating their access to investments and creating new jobs. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, L’Orient Le Jour, January 29, 2020)

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Regie profits rise 14.5% in 2019

24-1-2020

The chairman of La Regie Libanaise Des Tabacs et Tombacs, Nassif Siklawi, disclosed yesterday that despite the unfavorable conditions in the country, state-run institution’s profits have increased by 14.5% in 2019 against those of 2018. Siklawi who was speaking during a ceremony to honor employees who reached retirement age, said the call of this year is perseverance and continuity. In his address to the honorees, he said, because of your efforts, the Regie has accomplished a lot, notwithstanding Lebanon’s economic insecurity. While lauding their functional role in combating smuggling, supporting national economy and improving the quality of products, Siklawi explained that not all public facilities are the same. “What weighs for the Regie is the human being, human rights and farmers,” he concluded. (Al Diyar, January 24, 2020)

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Restrictions on foreign labor inside Beirut airport

23-1-2020

The minister of labor issued a statement on Tuesday informing the services companies operating at Beirut International Airport to hire Lebanese only. The statement explained that the ministry plans to not renew work permits for foreign laborers after receiving many requests from Lebanese wishing to be employed by similar companies. The latter pledged to start relying on domestic labor immediately and up to the largest number they can accommodate. The ministry’s statement comes in the framework of its tackling the current economic and living crisis within a plan to create more jobs for the Lebanese. It also comes after a swift tour by the ministry’s inspectors to some services firms in the airport to examine the work conditions and ensure that foreigners have legal papers. Former labor minister, Kamil Abul Sleiman, reminded involved institutions and companies to comply with the ministry’s instructions, advising them to boost social solidarity by giving priority in jobs to the Lebanese. (Al Diyar, January 23, 2020)

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Beirut ranks 184 out of 440 global cities for cost of living

22-1-2020

The 2020 Cost of Living Index produced by global database, Numbeo, ranked Beirut as 184th among 440 global cities, and 3rd among 24 Arab cities covered by the study published in Byblos Bank Weekly Monitor. The Lebanese capital, according to the above index, is the most expensive among 108 cities in the upper middle income countries included in the survey. The cost of living index measures the prices of consumer goods (relative consumer price index which covers the prices of groceries, restaurants, transportation and public facilities), in addition to the rent indicator, noting that both are benchmarked against New York City. The study has placed Beirut 168th globally, 7th among Arab countries and in 5th place among cities in upper middle income countries in the rent index. Globally, renting an apartment in Beirut is more expensive than in Bangkok, Linz in Austria and Malmo in Sweden. (More on the following link: https://bit.ly/2RxZYQA). (An Nahar, January 22, 2020)

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