Minister Haj Hassan and overcoming challenges to Lebanese industry and economy

The Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) launched its first ‘Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Risks Management’ program in observation of the protocol of cooperation signed last June with the Institute for Leadership and Excellence. According to the signed agreement, the Institute will provide the necessary advisory assistance and training services which enable local industrialists to apply international standard.. During the launching ceremony, ALI president, Fadi Gemayel, pointed out that risk management and the provision of safety in our industrial establishments is of utmost importance, particularly that it prevents damages, reduces potential losses and sustain their operation. Similarly, the Minister of Industry, Hussein Haj Hassan, after commending ALI and the Institute for Leadership for their endeavor, noted that “this type of management system is still incomplete and inappropriate in Lebanon when compared to developed countries”, and that related legislations are still inadequate. He called for urgent decisions on several key issues, namely Lebanon’s accession to the World Trade Organization and the 16 year old partnership agreement with EU which until now has not been beneficial to Lebanon. Other top challenges that needed to be tackled, the industry minister added, are unemployment and the widening deficit in the balance of trade and payments.

As Safir, Al Diyar, March 3, 2016