Fair Trade Lebanon celebrates its international day

Fair Trade Lebanon celebrated yesterday the World Fair Trade Day for the fifth consecutive year at St George Monastery in Roomieh, east of Beirut under the slogan, ’10 Years of Commitment’. The event was held under the patronage of Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon and in the presence of Acting US Ambassador Richard Jones and some 1200 friends of the association. Around 22  cooperatives and small and medium enterprises partook in the Sustainable Opportunities for Fair Trade Activities in Rural Areas (SOFAIR) funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative MEPI, and implemented in collaboration with Atayeb al Rif Coop. The ceremony included an exhibition of organic products made by the Fair Trade affiliated cooperatives, with a unique contribution from Sofil Catering group that beautifully displayed culinary items prepared by Fair Trade Lebanon associations. On the occasion, Fadi Samaha, representing minister Pharaon, stressed the significant role such venues play in promoting and reviving the heritage of remote Lebanese areas. The tourism ministry, Samaha said, attaches great importance to these sorts of events on, especially on the agricultural, development, and even the touristic levels. He recalled the new strategy launched recently by the ministry to motivate rural tourism and encourage the steadfastness and interaction of the locals with the riches of their countryside. (Al - Diyar June 6, 2016)