In cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, the Special Economic Zone of Tripoli (SEZ) organized yesterday a panel discussion under the heading, ‘SEZ: A promising platform for business in Lebanon’ at the Chamber’s premises. On the occasion, the chairperson of the Federation of Chambers, Mohamad Shukeir, said SEZ has made progressive steps reflected in the completion of the land fill or reclamation phase and is now preparing for the next phase of building the infrastructure. “As a private sector, we place great hopes on this special zone for its anticipated significant role in buttressing economic activity and productive sectors in general, and for being a booster for economic revival in Tripoli and the North and for accommodating a large part of the workforce, Shukeir maintained. For her part, Raya Hassan, SEZ general manager, said SEZ accelerates the growth of local economy, establishes the basis for the sought for balanced development, stimulates the economic cycle in the North and creates hundreds of jobs. Remarkable progress has been made since the inception of SEZ, Hassan added, pointing to a qualitative achievement reflected in the cabinet’s decision to launch the Knowledge and Innovation City (KIC) at the Rashid Karameh International Fair Complex. Hassan concluded by saying that the capital of the North boasts bright opportunities to play a prominent role in the reconstruction of neighboring Syria due to its strategic position. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, July 5, 2018)