Launch of “Bike Du Liban” project with Central Bank support

Tourism Minister Michel Faroun launched in a press conference yesterday a project ‘Bike Du Liban’. Present were, Director General of the Social Welfare Institutions and Dar Al Aytam Al Islamiya, Beirut, former minister, Khaled Kabbani, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Nada Sarduk, Director General of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Ziad Khayami, Central Bank Executive Director, Marian Hwayek, Bike Du Liban Honorary President, Gaby Tamer and members of Beirut City Council as well as a number of social, environmental, cultural and sports officials. Speaking about the project, Tamer reiterated the important role of civil society in protecting the environment and expressed hope that the use of bicycles will expand so that “we can watch ministers and MPs riding bikes to their offices as is the case in Europe and the United States”; said Tamer. Kabbani described the event as a national initiative that engages all the Lebanese regions and provides a space for the Lebanese from across the country to unite. For his part, Khayami cited the positive outcomes of the project which will contribute to protecting the environment, creates a solution for the traffic problem and presents an all-encompassing sports culture for all sects of society. Speaking on behalf of the Bank of Lebanon, Marian Hwayek announced the Bank’s full support to the event as part of its social responsibility and as a contribution from this public sector institution to civil society activities. (Al Diyar, 30 March 2015)