Projects for the development of Tripoli and for job creation remain in-pipeline

President of the Association for the Development of Tripoli and the Port, Robert Alfred Habib, stressed that the establishment of a special economic zone at the Northern port is an urgent need that will help create jobs in the city. Habib who is also a board member in the  Arab Sea Ports Federation Board said that Tripoli has been expecting this USD 24 million investment since 2008, adding that the results of tenders to start land fill works will be announced on March 11th. He urged the swift approval of a decree to appoint a president and board member for the said zone, stating that decrees regulating such works have already been enacted and thousands of square meters zoned. In a similar note, Habib indicated that the parking project in the city will solve the problem of traffic jam especially that it occupies 4-storey underground area, each stretching at 4000 cubic meters, and accommodating nearly 600 vehicles, with another 2500 cubic meters green area on the upper level. Habib added that the Council for Development and Construction, CDR, suggested the building of 4 additional floors above ground to house a culture and conference palace. In reviewing the on-going development projects, he also referred to the proposed railway link between the port area and the Syrian border. While noting that the Lebanese Government has allocated a budget of USD 20 million for this project, Habib said it will not be implemented before 2016. The lack of adequate funding, he added, impedes the realization of balanced development in the area and therefore slows down the advancement of the city. He concluded by formulating the following demands: the development of the Rashid Karameh International Fair Trade Exhibition by allocating additional funds; the appointment of a new board of directors for the Tripoli Port Authority; the setting up of a new slaughterhouse that observes health standards; and the setting up a school of health at the Lebanese University-Tripoli branch. Finally, Habib also emphasised the importance of developing the City’s oil refinery which can provide over 2000 new jobs and can contribute to lowering fuel prices in the country. (Al Diyar, 2 March 2015)