BLC bank honors innovative businesswomen

For the fifth consecutive year, BLC Bank organized last week the annual Brilliant Lebanese Awards ceremony in honor of owners of Lebanese establishments. The event comes as part of the BLC’s commitment to support pioneer initiatives, by women and small and medium enterprises, in particular. Zeina Khoury Daoud won for best woman of 2016 initiative on her ‘Le Potager’ agricultural project in Ammiq, West Beqaa, which involves organic farming and delivery to customers of vegetables and fruits she grows. Jamil Haddad won for his ‘Colonel Pierre’ restaurant in Batroon where he brews his own beer. Each winner received a cash prize of USD 30 thousand, while Rita Abbud, received USD 5 thousand for the category of audience favorites for the ‘Bebes Calins’ preschool she runs. On the occasion, BLC CEO, Maurice Sahnawi, expressed his faith in “supporting women and promoting their economic role as strategic partners representing half the society.” Sahnawi pointed out to the latest research which has shown that a reduced gap resulting from lesser exploitation of women’s capacities could increase by 25% the GDP in the MENA region. (L’Orient Le Jour, Al Mustaqbal, As Safir, December 9, 2016)