Conference to promote agriculture in Lebanon 

Under the patronage of prime minister Saad Hariri, Lebanon will be hosting the Agriculture Development Conference on September 24 at Beirut Phoenicia Hotel, as was announced during a press conference yesterday. The event is organized by the ministry of agriculture, the Economic Office at the Council of Ministers, the Union of Agricultural Syndicates, the Federation of Lebanese Chambers and Al Iktisad Wal Aamal Group. Participants in the press conference stressed the importance of the projected event which will gather various concerned government and private agencies. It is expected to tackle urgent issues in the sector and possible solutions to them, which will contribute to developing an all-inclusive vision for the advancement of the sector and increasing its participation in the GDP. The Agriculture minister, Hassan Lakiss, said the conference, which is the first specialized occasion to this end, is a real opportunity for the resurgence of agriculture. And hoping it comes out with feasible recommendations, Lakiss stressed the need to follow up their implementation through the cooperation of all ministries, government departments, trade unions, agricultural unions and cooperatives. About 500 participants will be reportedly present, including ministers, lawmakers and other involved parties, as well as private sector firms and agricultural associations and specialists and other economic sectors. (Al Diyar, September 18, 2019)