Lebanon hosts an international conference for Fair Trade municipalities

Fair Trade Lebanon will be hosting on July 1st and second the 10th  the international conference for Fair Trade Municipalities.  This year’s event is entitled “building communication bridges through Fair Trade” and will be held in Baskinta under the auspices of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform, Nabeel de Freige. Some18 countries will be represented in addition to representatives of Fair Trade organizations around the world.  FTL issued a statement in which it noted that holding this conference in Lebanon will strengthen Lebanon’s international role and will boost its environmental, natural, historical, touristic and human assets which will enable the country to be the first Fair Trade country in the world.  The statement also outlined the dynamic society in Lebanon which, despite the fact that it suffered from conflicts and disasters and from hosting refugees, still enjoys dynamism and creativity in finding solutions for challenges and is able to play an international role as a messenger of conviviality, peace and freedom.  To be noted that since its inception in 2006, FTL says it has encouraged the creation of organizations and cooperatives and strengthened those existing.  To dates, the organization says that it works with 36 coops and a number of small and medium enterprises whom it helps to improve their product to meet international standards.  It has also taken part in exhibitions and established partnerships with similar organizations outside Lebanon to who it sells some 72 products branded: Terroirs du Liban, products that are also sold on the local market. (Al-Diyar, June 28, 2016)