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Guidanian brings the sea to Faraya!

7-6-2018

The minister of tourism in the caretaker government, Avedis Guidanian, and minister Pierre Raffoul launched yesterday the ‘Faraya on the beach’ festival 2018 opening the third season from July 26 to 29. Guidanian praised similar touristic initiatives in towns and villages, particularly religious tourism. “When the sea comes to Faraya, this means bringing people from the coast up to the mountains, and Faraya is a famous summer resort town,” Guidanian stated. He stressed that the 4-day festival designates success, especially that it is not an expensive destination for visitors and vacationers. Guidanian revealed that his ministry inaugurated last week two recreational and conference tourism sites. “Through the contracted company, we are able to communicate with leading tour operators and travel agencies around the globe and to ask them to enlist Lebanon on their itineraries so that tourists learn how to spend their time in our country,” the minister said. “We are signing Faraya up on the ministry’s two websites so that tourists can visit the area and contemplate its natural and religious landmarks,” he concluded. (Al Diyar, June 7, 2018)

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Two investment projects in Ferzol, Ghazir generate 142 jobs

7-6-2018

The chairperson of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), Nabil Itani, handed over the package deal contract to Global Snacks S.A.L. He lauded the project as part of the agri-food sector that boasts a huge potential for growth and expansion abroad, pointing to numerous promising opportunities of investment in the field. According to IDAL’s statement, the USD 10 million worth undertaking involves setting up a factory in Furzol, Bekaa to produce flour and all kinds of grains, rice and corn chips as well as fruit and chocolate muesli. It is anticipated to create some 92 jobs. The incentives include full exemption from income tax and reduction of construction permit fees, as well as, full exemption from real estate registration fees and work permits of all categories to foreign workforce. Itani last week has handed over the package of incentives to General Paints Company S.A.L. which aims to expand the existing factory in the area of Ghazir to produce special car paints and derivatives. The size of investment stood at about USD 8 million with around 50 new generated jobs. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 7, 2018)

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USAID promoting the rights of marginalized women

7-6-2018

The Inaya Association held yesterday the closing ceremony for its ‘Supporting the rights of marginalized women’ project under the sponsorship of the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian and the presence of a group of dignitaries. The project to note, is implemented in cooperation with the alliance of NGOs in Lebanon within the framework of the USAID-funded ‘Building Alliances for Local Advancement, Development and Investment- Capacity Building’ (BALADI CAP) program. On the occasion, Ogassapian pointed out that the issue of marginalized women is a human tragedy, blaming the political authorities who are responsible to raise awareness on the issue and approach marginalized communities. Karine Nassar, Inaya executive director, said the project supports the rights of marginalized women, particularly sex workers, with the focus on promoting policies and strategies involving their rights within the social and health care centers and institutions. For her part, program director, Nadia Badran, announced a series of recommendations notably: training graduates of universities and schools to understand the specificities of persons concerned and comply with the code of conduct related to health associations. (for more on the subject, kindly refer to the link below: https://goo.gl/obkG7F). (Al Mustaqbal, June 7, 2018)

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Future calls for a gender equitable nationality law

6-6-2018

The presidential naturalization decree which was leaked last week has sparked continuous controversy over violating the rights of Lebanese women. The Future Movement bloc stressed yesterday during a meeting held in the center house the priority of inclusion of a special draft law that observes the right of a Lebanese woman married to an Arab or foreigner to confer nationality to her children, which puts an end to the injustice against thousands of anguished Lebanese mothers. In its scrutiny of the names listed in the Naturalization Ordinance, the General Directorate of General Security requested that citizens inform of any data or information they have about the names contained therein. Meanwhile, the three political parties opposing naturalization (the Kataeb, LF and PSP) agreed during a meeting in Beirut to give priority at this stage to studying and deliberating the decree at hand. And while the prime minister Saad Hariri advised that debate over the said decree should take place within the Legislature where it is subject to careful consideration and observation, foreign minister, Jibran Bassil, said the issue has no clandestine side to it, noting that the nationality is not a commodity to be traded, and demanded a fast and serious investigation into the matter. On the subject, Al Diyar wrote today that the issue which took on dramatic proportions could place the country in direct confrontation with multiple international parties as per the names it included. Al Akhbar newspaper on the other hand, said there was no freeze of the naturalization decree, but only a delay in putting it into effect pending the General Security’s scrutiny of names is complete. (Al Akhbar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 5, 6, 2018)

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CEO of Qatar Airways: Industry can be led by men only!

6-6-2018

The CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar al Baker, said during IATA’s annual meeting, that the Qatari Airways does not tolerate gender discrimination, but added, that “of course only a man can do this job because it is very challenging.” Baker’s comments sparked wide disapproval from the international press present in the room because of his biased attitude against women. The airline released a statement later containing an apology from Baker for the harsh remarks, but stating that they have been taken out of the context. It added that the airlines have always emphasized the leading role of women, with females representing nearly 44% of its work force. On the subject, the British Guardian wrote that, Qatar Airways has long developed a bad reputation in its unfair treatment of the female crew, notably its laying off the pregnant flight attendants. BBC for its part, said last year Baker was forced to apologize for his reproachful description of US air hostesses as "grandmothers". (BBC, June 5, 2018)

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Claudine Aoun prefers to focus on environment and not nationality!

6-6-2018

Despite the uproar against the latest naturalization decree, NCLW president and special advisor to the president, Claudine Aoun Roukoz, failed to articulate any criticism vis a vis this contentious decision which in fact has dealt a severe blow to women’s right to confer nationality, a matter that Auoun promised to address when she became president of NCLW. On the other hand, Aoun, was very much concerned key role women play in ensuring a healthy environmental life and in addressing the hazards of pollution through raising awareness in society. She pointed out that women’s participation in social, political and economic decisions that directly affect environment has become a necessity for a better and more just society. Rukuz was speaking during a ceremony held by UNIFIL at its Naqoura headquarters in South Lebanon to mark the World Environment Day 2018 under the theme, ‘Beat plastic pollution’. She outlined several environmental projects completed by NCLW like for example, a clean and healthy drinking water for women prisons in Lebanon project and supporting active environmental agencies and groups through sponsoring afforestation campaigns organized by NCLW in different parts of Lebanon. (Al Mustaqbal, June 6, 2018)

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Saudi Arabia starts issuing driving licenses to women

5-6-2018

Saudi authorities started yesterday issuing driving licenses to women three weeks before they are granted the right to drive, (https://goo.gl/WPeDXy). The state-owned Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the General Traffic Department has started replacing international driving licenses recognized in the Kingdom with Saudi licenses prior to the projected date of June 24th, adding that a first cohort of women have already received their permits. The delivery of Saudi driving licenses has taken place in several cities and their release was made possible after verifying the validity of the (international) licenses and assessing the ability of applicants who wish to trade them through undergoing brief driving tests, SPA reported. Similarly, the information ministry’s Center for International Communication (CIC) said in statement that 10 women were issued driving licenses, anticipating an additional 2,000 women to receive similar licenses next week. (Al Mustaqbal, June 5, 2018)

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It is never too late: Women in Saudia allowed to drive!
 

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Lebanon ranks 91st globally in investment

5-6-2018

Lebanon ranked in 91st place globally among 170 countries and 10th among 18 Arab countries on the Milken Institute’s Global Opportunities Index (GOI) for the year 2017. Lebanon also came in the 25th place among 46 upper middle-income countries covered in the survey. To note, the GOI assesses the attractiveness of investment prospects in 170 states and assists governments in identifying key business, legal and regulatory policies that could be modified in order to support and attract direct foreign investments and investments in the financial markets. It scales a country from zero to 10, with 10 representing the most favorable countries for investment. According to GOI outcomes published in Byblos Bank’s Lebanon This Week, Lebanon is positioned ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bahamas and Zambia, but behind Morocco, Kenya and Paraguay among economies with a USD 10 billion or more GDP. Lebanon also ranked ahead of Egypt and came behind Morocco among Arab states. (An Nahar, June 5, 2018)

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Hariri seeks a cabinet with 25% women representation

5-6-2018

In its issue of today, Al Diyar newspaper reported that premier Saad Hariri appointed to form a new government seeks to give women at least one fourth of ministerial seats in his upcoming cabinet. Al Diyar pointed out that Hariri has repeatedly mentioned to his guests, including MP elect Paula Yacoubian, that he wishes to see women ministers occupying 25% of the cabinet. The prime minister seems to have taken the decision to put into action the principle of ‘ministerial quota’, by appointing 2 women out of 5 ministers assigned for the quota of his Future Parliamentary bloc, Al Diyar wrote. Citing informed sources, the newspaper said Hariri has advised all parliamentary blocs to try to recruit women to represent them in the anticipated government, in order to reach a 25% quota of women ministers. On the other hand, the Future Movement MP elect, Roula Tabsh, visited yesterday the Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdel Latif Daryan at Dar el Fatwa accompanied by MPs Bahiya Hariri and Dima Jamali. “We are honored to present to His Eminence the projected work plan which covers the various economic, political and social aspects in general, and particularly, the role of women, their empowerment and activation in society,” Tabsh said at the end of the visit. “We aspire to remove the injustices against women and society,” she added, reiterating her wish to prove that Muslim women and women in general can reach decision-making positions and make a difference at all levels. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, June 5, 2018)

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Ban on Turkish imports stears support and opposition

4-6-2018

The recent Cabinet decision barring the importation of clothes and food items from Turkey (http://lkdg.org/ar/node/17487), has been supported by industrial circles but criticized by traders, Al Diyar reported, citing the ministry of economy in the caretaker government as saying similar measures will follow soon. These protective measures, minister Raed Khoury told Al Diyar, will cover 20 to 25 commodities, noting that Lebanon’s imports from Turkey stand at USD one billion against only USD 200 million in exports to Turkey, which creates a trade deficit between the two countries. Al Diyar wrote that while the official Turkish response did not come out yet, rumors surfaced about a decision to suspend the entry of holders of Lebanese passports to Turkey without a prior visa. Expounding on the subject, Khoury told the newspaper he did not expect any such reaction on the Turkish part, pointing to his meeting with the Turkish ambassador who denied any such action describing it simply as an economic decision that has no political implications. Khoury explained that his ministry is planning a holistic economic approach intended to shift rentier economy to a productive through supporting productive economic sectors. He pledged before the end of the government’s term, to “break the taboo that has been preventing us from taking such measures,” hoping a similar decision be taken to end smuggling activities. Meanwhile, the president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, Fadi Gemayel, welcomed the above decision, playing down any anticipated negative outcome from it, except from a group of importers who have narrow commercial interests. On the subject, the Gathering of Lebanese-Turkish Associations said in a statement released on Friday that the goods covered by the Cabinet’s decision are suspicious, particularly that they target low-income and middle class citizens, as well as, small and medium merchants and enterprises. The statement demanded the conclusion of a bilateral trade agreement to prevent Lebanon from losing any new investment prospects with Turkish investors. (AL Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, May 31, June 4, 2018)
 

Previous related news:
Ban of import of cloths, food from Turkey to support domestic industry
 
 

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