Minister Hajj Hassan: High officials are oblivious to the need to fight unemployment through appropriate economic policies

The Minister of Industry, Dr. Hussein Hajj Hassan, noted that Lebanon suffers from the brain drain of its educated youth.  He added that the solution reside in drawing a comprehensive national policy focusing on productive sectors such as agriculture, care, services, tourism, business and banks.  Hajj Hassan also criticized Lebanon’s adherence to the Arab Free Trade Agreement and EU Partnership agreement.  The Minister was speaking during the launch of the 2014 Employment and Orientation Exhibition which was held yesterday at the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Saida, under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and OMSAR and jointly organized by the European Institute for Collaboration and Development and Dar al Inaya.  It is to be noted that the event was implemented within the framework of the Afkar III programme funded by the EU.
Hajj Hassan further added that there are so many universities and vocational training institutes in Lebanon which regretfully graduate hundreds of students who cannot find job opportunities.  He held the highest echelons of the state responsible for this situation including the Cabinet and the Parliament.  Hajj Hassan concluded by saying that this Forum is a productive and humanitarian event which focuses on the close collaboration and complete partnership between relevant Ministries, the private sector, International Organisations and CSOs.

(Source: Al Mustaqbal, Assafir and Al Diyar 11 November 2014)