The Italian Embassy and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) announced on Friday a 500 thousand euro grant to create jobs in the agro-food sector in Lebanon. Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Massimo Marotti and UNIDO representative for Lebanon, Cristiano Passini, said that the 12-month project is aimed at promoting new employment opportunities through the development of selected agro-food productive capacities, as well as provision of new economic prospects for unemployed youth and women. During the signing event held at the Italian embassy, Passini underlined the importance of supporting productive industries in the Lebanese economy today more than any time. As unemployment exacerbates, he said, the agro-food industry is expected to become a major catalyst for jobs for young men and women. The main goal is to improve work likelihoods for a number of Lebanese households through technical support and market oriented training on professional skills targeting the youth. Beneficiaries, Passini stated, include small and medium enterprises and agricultural cooperatives, particularly in the dairy and beekeeping sectors. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, May 6, 2017)