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Haj Hassan reiterates his demand for better access to European markets
23-3-2017
The industry minister, Dr. Hussein Hajj Hassan, met on Tuesday with the EU Ambassador to Lebanon, Christina Lassen, to discuss the critical economic situation in the country and to demand again for the opening of European markets to Lebanese goods. Hajj Hassan asked the EU to adopt an exceptional treatment that could boost Lebanon’s growth, stimulate its economy, facilitate the opening of new factories, expand production and opportunities of export with the aim to secure more jobs for the Lebanese, firstly, and displaced Syrians, secondly. The minister focused in his discussion on the need to open up the European markets to made-in-Lebanon goods after ensuring their excellence. These include, medicines and drugs, cheeses, dairy products, meat, spices, nuts, coffee, as well as, electronics and IT products. The clothing industry, Hajj Hassan said, is another sector that can be swiftly invested in, is affordable and can create thousands of jobs, especially for women. He appealed for help in raising Lebanon’s exports to EU countries from USD 300 million to between USD 800 million and USD 1 billion. For her part, Lassen supported the minister’s proposal, while attaching it to a political solution in Syria. However, she said the EU is prepared to embark on a long-term collaboration based on the provision of specialized training and rehabilitation programs in tune with European requirements.It is to be noted that Hajj Hassan had declared repeated warnings concerning the huge trade deficit, namely between Lebanon and Europe previously, since Lebanese exports to the EU countries have seen a modest increase (only USD 300 million) (from USD 200 million in 2000 according to industry ministry figures) against a disproportionate upsurge in the opposite direction (EU exports to Lebanon rose from USD 2 billion to USD 8.5 billion in the past 14 years) (c.f: http://bit.ly/2gyd6Fd) (Al Diyar, March 23, 2017)
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