Sabounjian inaugurating the Beirut Cooking Festival in Biel: Lebanese cuisine is creating new job opportunities for young people

The third edition of the Beirut Cooking Festival kicked off yesterday at the Biel international exhibition centre under the auspices of the Minister of Trade Freij Sabounjian and with the participation of Georges Nasraoui the president of the Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industrialists (SLFI), Paul Ariss the president of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night-Clubs & Pastries in Lebanon, Fouad Zmokhol the President of the Lebanese Businessmen Associations (RDCL), Raja Habre the General Manager at the Lebanese Franchise Association, and Soha Atallah LibanPack Director.

In his key note address, Minister Sabounjian noted that this exhibition is about the art of cooking and the latest trends in food, art of living and modern designs.  According to the Minister, this event helps in marketing the Lebanese cuisine and in strengthening its international outreach.  He pointed out to Lebanese who opened restaurants in different parts of the world thus contributing to the development of the sector as well as to the creation of new jobs.  The Minister highlighted the need to use natural resources to secure jobs for young people in agro-industry which will in turn strengthen tourism.

Some 100 exhibitors are taking part in this event organised by Hospitality Services.  The exhibition includes a selection of kitchen tools and dining accessories, is considered to be the most important event in the cooking calendar and to foodies and is set to extend until November 9th.

Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar 8 November 2013