Shucair during an exhibition in Saida: Food processing is a top sector for the Lebanese economy

The food processing industry recoded great achievements in recent years, because of its ability to meet the demand of local markets, as well as make headway in several regional and international markets, thus setting the example for other industries in Lebanon. The president of the Federation of CCIA in Lebanon, Mr. Mohammad Shucair stressed, during a conference held yesterday in Saida, the importance of these achievements, adding that support to agriculture leads to the development of most of the other related sectors, and also pointing out to the fact that no prosperous sector can survive without the needed infrastructure and a favorable investment climate. He indicated that the agriculture sector greatly contributes to the offsetting of the trade deficit and the creation of new job opportunities both vital for the Lebanese economy.
Furthermore, the Lebanese food processing industry comes at the top in terms of generated added value, an in the second place in terms of investments, and this according to, Munir Al-Bsat, the vice president of the Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industrialists.
Shucair’s statement came during a conference organized by the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Saida and the South, to formally launch an exhibition entitled  “Encouraging innovation in food processing” an held at he exhibition centre of the chamber in Saida. The conference included several workshops, in which experts addressed the issue of innovation in the food processing industry. For his part, the president of the CCIA of Saida and the south, Mohammad Saleh, reemphasized the importance of innovation and creativity and their role in fighting unemployment and securing the autonomy of Lebanese industry, calling upon the government to adopt policies that support the knowledge based economy.
It is to be noted that the exhibition opens for the public today with the participation of more than 50 food processing enterprises and rural cooperative from Saida and the south, and is organized in collaboration with IDAL, the Federation of CCIA in Lebanon, and the EU. The exhibition will remain open from September 19th to 23rd and this from 4:00 to 10:00 PM.
Source: Al-Safir 19 September 2013