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English

Lebanon may resort to trade barriers to safeguard its industry from external dumping

7-6-2017

Following continuous appeals to protect made-in-Lebanon goods from fierce foreign competition and from market dumping, and the repeated warnings Minister of Industry Hussein Haj Hassan about imbalances in world trade, the minister of economy and trade, Raed Khoury announced yesterday the completion of a working plan on the protection of 17 local products to this end. Khoury was speaking after a meeting with Haj Hassan who repeatedly cautioned against a defective imbalanced trade with a number of countries. The list prepared by the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA), and at the request of the Industry ministry, reportedly comprises the following items or sectors: iron, burghol, sugar, pasta, dairies and cheeses, biscuits, flour, marble and granite, corn flakes, aluminum profiles, duck liver, shotgun shells, detergents, sanitary, chicken, paper and tissue paper including egg crates, test liner paper and cardboard. To note, that LIA is currently compiling more files for additional industries, including furniture, footwear and clothing and protection glass. Discussions, Khoury said, also touched on ways to increase exports to Europe, while he disclosed that a letter has been sent two weeks ago to the European Union for this purpose. The meeting has also identified a list of specific basic products that need to be imported by the EU, Khoury added. The goods were chosen based on their competitive advantage internally, the minister stated, pointing out that protection will be realized through several measures, including the imposition or lifting of tariffs on similar goods imported by Lebanon, and the banning import from specific countries that continue to flood the domestic market with products. Meanwhile, the deficit in the trade balance continues to deepen. According to Customs Supreme Council figures, the deficit has soared to reach USD 5.40 billion during the first four months of 2017, up from USD 5.36 billion during the same period of the earlier year. The Customs attributed the rise to an increase by USD 133 million on an annual basis in the import bill to USD 6.36 billion, against an increase in exports of only USD 95 million to a gross of USD 965 million. (Annahar, Al Diyar and Al Mustaqbal 5 and 7 June , 2017) Previous related news: Renewed call for closing down Syrian businesses to protect Lebanese industry Minister Hajj Hassan reiterates from Rome his demand for access to European markets Haj Hassan reiterates his demand for better access to European markets

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A foreign ministry employee accused of sexual harassment escapes sanctioning

7-6-2017

Al Akhbar newspaper uncovered in its issue if today that an investigation is underway at the foreign ministry against a staff member accused of harassing female colleagues while on duty in Lebanese missions around the world. The subject employee, member since August 2016 of a sub-committee within the Free Patriotic Movement, is responsible for the electronic link between the ministry and the Lebanese diplomatic missions. Al Akhbar pointed out that despite disapprovals and complaints from the missions in Marseille, Los Angeles and Detroit against the Despicable conduct of said employee, the latter has been rewarded by an administrative directive allowing him to carry on his duties which, reportedly, will cover Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia. The newspaper went on to say, that the officer who supervises the employee hid from foreign minister, Jibran Bassil, a complaint sent in late January by the Mission of Lebanon in Marseille, disregarding the objections made by the Acting Secretary General over the reprehensible behavior, which Bassil has been unaware of. Lately in April, the newspaper wrote, the foreign ministry received two grievances from Los Angeles and Detroit containing details of the scandalous acts of the questionable employee. Accordingly, the secretary general informed Bassil who ordered the formation of an enquiry commission, Al Akhbar reported, adding that the employee kept changing his statements in every hearing, aided with increasing support from his supervisor. The newspaper concluded by raising a question as to reasons behind the soft attitude of the foreign minister who has not to date taken punitive measures against the employee. (Al Akhbar, June 7, 2017)

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Towards a national strategy for a sustainable tourism

6-6-2017

The secretary general of the Hotel Owners Association, Jean Beiruti, said yesterday Lebanon needs to expand its national touristic map, targeting the distinctive features of respective districts and regions. In his lecture at the University of Arts, Science and Technology in Lebanon (AUL) entitled, ‘a tourism strategy for sustainable tourism’, Beiruti brought up three prerequisites to achieve that. They are: Enlisting Lebanon as a global tourist destination, focusing on the fundamental aspects or qualities that mark Lebanon and the country’s preparedness in terms of national and tourism infrastructure. Expounding on the first principle, Beiruti urged travel operators and international flights agents to put Lebanon on the global map, underlining the important role of the International Forum for Tourism and Conferences held last month under the banner ‘Visit Lebanon’ with the participation of 150 global companies in the industry. The second principle relates to touristic attributes the country boasts, Beiruti explained. In light of the feedback and observations of above 150 international representatives, the Lebanese food, hospitality, nightlife venues and values, as well as communication skills of the tourism sector’s human resources, have proved the positive nature of these values. As such, and amidst a globalization bustle and collective tourism boom, Lebanon can come out of the masses and shine, Beiruti noted. As per the third principle, Beiruti spelled out a demand for a second airport that can accommodate charter jets, rehabilitated beaches, and a wide-ranging upgraded technology/ internet services. "We cannot expand the size of internal tourism and travel industry without solving these basic quandaries,” Beiruti warned. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 6, 2017)

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Domestic violence monitor: A husband shoots his wife, foreign domestic worker kills herself and alleged Ethiopian woman murderer found 

6-6-2017

In the newest domestic violence incidents, Ali Ayub, (in his fifties) from the southern town of H7ula, shot his wife, (Syrian, in her twenties) in the leg with three bullets at her brother’s residence in Kfarkila who was rushed to Marje3yoon state hospital for treatment. Reportedly, Ayub has divorced his wife more than once, but when he tried to take her back and she declined, he shot her. In the latest regarding last week’s Jibal al Botm crime, (news:), the Qana police station troopers managed to arrest the Ethiopian domestic worker, a suspect killer of Salman Khiami (c.f http://bit.ly/2rwiQDU) in the olive orchards on the outskirts of the town of Siddikine. Initial information has indicated that the detained MWDW confessed to stabbing her employer when the latter prevented her from leaving the house. On the other hand, a domestic worker from Ethiopian nationality was found yesterday hung on the branch of a tree in her employer’s backyard in Blida, Marje3yoon 
(Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, May 31, June 4 and 6, 2017)

Previous related news: 
Domestic violence daily reporting in Lebanon!
Ethiopian woman domestic worker suspected of murder in Jibal al Botm
Another MWDW “suicide” in Iqlim al-Kharrub
 

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Sayyed Ali Fadlallah laments the marginalization of women

6-6-2017

Shiite cleric, Sayyed Ali Fadlallah, said yesterday that women were and shall remain the first to take action on the development and advancement of their community. Fadlallah, who was speaking during an Iftar by Al Mabarrat Charity Association at Sayidat Khadija al Kubra premises, drew attention to the countless contributions by women, within family and in society. “We need women, their efforts and their crucial role, especially in the reality we live up with, where corruption and perversion prevail, and where the rate of crime and violence are high and social maladies abound,” Fadlallah said. He made clear that the act of abusing or demeaning women does not stop at the direct repercussions on battered women, but that ill-treatment is passed on to society affecting its efficacy and jeopardizing its future which is essentially built on women. “It is a momentous crime,” he said. Fadlallah maintained that the community weakens when it marginalizes women preventing them from participating in development or political affairs, while restricting their job to social feats. “They do not have a significant presence in the Parliament, the Cabinet or in municipalities, or even inside parties or associations, to talk about their rights,” Fadlallah lamented, adding, that “even if they find a role, it would be secondary to men’s.” The minimal presence of women is not attributed to a gap in their aptitudes or potentials, but rather to unwanted conventional traditions we seek to discard or to prejudiced legislations we ought to change, the Shiite scholar stated. He stressed the need to stand with women every step of the way to achieve their just rights, on the religious, legal and political levels. (Al Diyar, June 6, 2017)

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New US aid to promote rural livelihoods

6-6-2017

The director general of Lebanon Livelihoods and Inclusive Finance Expansion (LIFE), Mathew Lovick, exchanged yesterday a financial grant agreement with general director of the Lebanese Cooperative for Development (LCD), Serge Oweis. The purpose of the agreement is to enhance the livelihoods of residents of rural areas (the South, North and Beqaa), especially with the growing number of loan borrowers from LCD. Following the signing, Oweis said that LIFE’s initiative is a promising USAID-funded venture after the Lebanese Microfinance Investment-LMI project. “We should work hard and in a transparent manner to reach the set goals,” Oweis stated, pointing that LIFE is committed to the provision of technical and institutional assistance to LCD for the duration of the 5-year project. (Al Mustaqbal, June 6, 2017)

Previous related news: 
US financial grant to microfinance sector in Lebanon
USD20 million from USAID in support of microfinance
 

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MARSATI to rehabilitate human resources, create jobs

5-6-2017

The minister of public works and transportation, Youssef Finianos, launched on Friday the graduation ceremony from the Maritime Science and Technology Institute- MARSATI/Batroun of internal security forces ISF squads who completed a sea captain/maritime officer/mariner course bound to work on high seas explorer boats. The main goal of establishing said institute, Finianos maintained, is to rehabilitate operational maritime cadres and create new jobs in marine navigation, pointing that the cornerstone of MARSATI has been elaborated back in 2010. Then, Finianos maintained, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) included Lebanon in the ‘white list’ of member states in observance of standards of training, vacation, coastguards, marine traffic and the issuance of certificates for seafarers. The minister stressed the need to comply with international requirements to equip MARSATI with the necessary technical apparatus and complement it with the construction of a university-level academy in marine engineering and navigation. The sought-for facility is expected to offer a 4-year degree in one of the two areas: basic education for marine officers/mariners, and basic education for marine engineers, Finianos explained, noting that the Lebanese-issued certificates of qualification are internationally credited. He also pointed out that some 4344 students from 7 Arab countries have benefited so far from the courses or services of the Institute. (Al Mustaqbal, June 3, 2017)

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400 factories close in Lebanon because of unfavorable environment

5-6-2017

Al Diyar daily reported the shutdown of around 400 small and medium industrial factories in Lebanon over the past year, according to informed industry sources. The newspaper drew attention to earlier warnings by the industry minister about an imminent collapse of the sector, but these were taken lightly by concerned authorities. The newspaper wondered why the assigned economic ministerial committee under prime minister Hariri has not convened to date? Above sources disclosed that the ministry of trade and economy has received but did not respond to 16 complete industrial files that spelled out the weaknesses and challenges facing 17 industrial items presently at risk of either dumping or annihilation. The sources pointed out that industrialists continuously complain about the absence of a supportive environment at the MoT&E. They stressed the need to accelerate the adoption of measures that protect national industry, chiefly, the imposition and enforcement of tariffs on imported goods that can be fully produced or sufficiently processed in Lebanon. The government has a year before the parliamentary elections, which is enough to enact necessary protective procedures, the sources noted. (Al Diyar, June 3, 2017)

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US financial grant to microfinance sector in Lebanon

5-6-2017

The director general of Lebanon Livelihoods and Inclusive Finance Expansion (LIFE), Mathew Lovick, signed on Friday a financial grant agreement with the president of the Lebanese Microfinance Association (LMFA), Dr. Yussef Khalil. The agreement aims to secure the proper institutional and operational backing for the LMFA for the next 12 months. It also seeks to boost continued support from USAID to the Association since its inception on January 12, 2015 as the nation’s first microfinance body and official umbrella for 9-member establishments to date. It should be noted, that the purpose of the five-year USAID-funded LIFE initiative is to enhance livelihoods, advance the microfinance sector and expand inclusive finance in order to improve economic prospects targeting new projects and current beneficiaries of microfinance services. LIFE is also committed to the provision of ongoing technical and institutional assistance to LMFA during the duration of the project (2016-2021). (Al Mustaqbal, June 3, 2017)
 
Previous related news: 
USD20 million from USAID in support of microfinance
 

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Ogassapian for inclusion of women’s quota in the imminent electoral law

5-6-2017

The minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, pressed on Friday for the inclusion of the women’s representation quota in the provisions of the imminent electoral law which framework has now become clear. The Minister pointed out in a statement that the switch from rhetoric to serious discussion of details of said law requires prioritizing the women’s quota while ensuring that this is not influenced by any sectarian considerations that might affect what it described as a “central demand and right” and a progressive step in enhancement of women’s participation in the public life of the country. “The active presence of women in institutions is not a formality or luxury. Experience has proved that women contribute to inspiration and development of the performance of constitutional bodies and boost their productivity,” the statement concluded.(Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, June 4, 2017)

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