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English

Religious cultural tourism to reposition Lebanon on world map

17-5-2017

The Religious Cultural Tourism unit at the Council of Ministers launched yesterday the first phase of the religious cultural tourism project at the Grand Serail under the headline, ‘celebrating our diversity’. Prime Minister Saad Hariri, on the occasion, underlined the importance of the project which he said “is more than economic- and better described as national and humanitarian, (Local) Lebanese and cross-continental,” that will reposition the country on the world religious tourism map. For his part, tourism minister, Avedis Guidanian, pointed to his ministry’s laborious efforts to promote tourism in the country in all its aspects, notably religious tourism “which belongs to all faiths,” as he put it. He mentioned the strategy set by the ministry to develop the infrastructure of religious sites and the rehabilitation of a number of tracks that include religious monuments from different regions and sects. He maintained that the initiative will grow to cover the various religious landmarks across Lebanon, uncovering collaboration with Italy to this effect, in light of extensive experience it boasts in the field. In the same vein, project coordinator, Rula Ajooz, disclosed a plan to build a list of 250 out of over 2000 heritage religious sites scattered all over the country. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, May 15, 2017)

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Loans and grants to small enterprises in Byblos

17-5-2017

In coordination with the Mayor Assembly of Byblos and Vitas, and under the motto, ‘together towards local develoment’, Fransabank Byblos and Michel Issa Foundation for Local Development (MIF) donated grants to low-income people with the aim to build their capacities and develop their small businesses. Head of MIF, Toni Issa, said targeted groups included mainly small and underprivileged crafters and professionals who are in need of funding to expand their industries or who lack the prospects of financing. Issa noted that the above program is not restricted to distribution of loans and grants, but also covers guidance and assistance in the preparation of feasibility templates and reports. He announced that the micro-loan program will become an annual activity due to its considerable contribution to rural development. For his part, Fransabank deputy general manager, Philippe Haj, revealed that the bank is currently repaying interests for some 30 loans totaling USD 4500. The bank, Hajj said, is also paying off USD 20 thousand in loans as donation to borrowers from Jbeil district whose requests for credits have been approved. Haj drew attention to Fransabank’s investments in mini projects during 2016, amounting to nearly USD 5.97 million, as compared to USD 5.37 million in 2015. In figures, 42.4% of beneficiaries are aged (18-35 years), 40% are women, and around 460 new jobs were created, according to Haj. )Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, May 16, 2017(

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Fair Trade Day on May 21

17-5-2017

Fair Trade Lebanon (FTL) is getting ready for the May 21 fair trade day under the campaign’s motto, ‘because trade can be fair, be part of Fair Trade Day celebration’ at St. George’s convent in Roumyeh, Qleiyat, from 12 PM until 5 PM. The FTL head, Samir Abdel Malak, explained to Al Markaziya electronic portal the importance of the event at this stage, especially that it coincides with the World Fair Trade Day (WFTD) organized by over 300 states carrying the banner, ‘World Fair Trade Organization’. Abdel Malak clarified that the aim of the day is to support and sell local production through big cooperatives from the far south to the far north of Lebanon and motivate producers to stay steadfast in their land. He added that the association primarily seeks to promote the work of cooperatives, that embrace a large number of women engaged in preparation of assortments of traditional Lebanese dishes targeted for marketing locally and abroad. Recalling the onset of this ‘unique’ initiative back in 2006, Abdel Malak disclosed that it now sells more than 70 brands of oils, wine, thyme (zaatar baladi), in addition to an array of Lebanese appetizers. The products, he said, are processed by specialized cooperatives located in Qleyaa, Bekaa and Forzol. He finally said he expected the FTL event to attract a large number of owners of coops and producers that will spend a day with family and exchange their experiences in the field. (Al Diyar, May 17, 2017)

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Career fair in Antelias to link graduates and labor markets

17-5-2017

The Arab Open University (AOU) held yesterday its annual career fair at its Antelias campus, with the participation of over 50 recruitment institutions and economic establishments. On the occasion, AOU director, Dr. Fayruz Farah Sarkis, underlined the important purpose of similar activities organized by the university, particularly for building communication between graduate students and the local labor market. She praised the role of the fair in showcasing student aptitudes to employers and at the same time displaying to students job prospects at hand. Sarkis stressed the significance of partnership between higher education institutions and social and economic sectors. She commended AOU efforts in supporting its students to acquire capacities and skills that boost their performance at work through quality programs based on British accreditation and modern technical and vocational training, in corporation with the private and public sectors. Sarkis said that each year, more than 300 students get training at different institutions, and a large number of them receive job offers for their high-grade output during training period. (An Nahar, May 17, 2017)

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Economic-crisis stricken Lebanon lectures on development and reconstruction

16-5-2017

In the absence of any clear economic visions, officials continue to propagate shallow declarations. In this regard, prime minister, Saad Hariri, declared on Friday the so-termed ‘Lebanese-way’ approach to end the crisis in the region and face existing challenges through transforming a problem into an opportunity and disaster into hope. Hariri was speaking during his opening of the 2-day ‘financing reconstruction- in the aftermath of the Arab transformations’ forum organized by the Union of Arab Banks. He drew a roadmap for the post conflict phase, pointing that the size of needed actions in the Arab world prompts openness and cooperation between pan-Arab banking sectors and institutions from all countries. He called for more commitment and engagement in the global trend promoting the activation of partnership between public and private sectors, particularly in infrastructure development, the prime pillar for any economic growth. Similarly, PM Hariri announced on Thursday during the annual gala dinner of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, that the Cabinet will approve any draft or proposal submitted to it that protects the Lebanese industry. He mentioned that the stake is currently to promote productive sectors, especially those that boast high added value. “We are in need of sectors that generate jobs for the Lebanese youth, and here comes the role of the industrial sector, adding that Industry is the nerve of the economy and the engine for economic growth. For his part, the industry minister, Hussein Haj Hassan, reiterated his call for adoption of increased export/ reduced import policy through enforcing specific duty to ensure reasonable competition between imported and domestic production. Haj Hassan was speaking during his launch of the first industrial undertaking in Lebanon based on solar photovoltaic energy, that has been applied to Panda Plast plants in Neeha, the Beqaa. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, Al Diyar, May 13, 14, 15, 2017)

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Sandra Mansur, the journey of a Swiss-Lebanese fashion designer

16-5-2017

The swiss-born Lebanese fashion designer, Sandra Mansur, has claimed an Arab and international repute for her distinctive pieces, according to Le Commerce du Levant. In a special interview with the magazine, Mansur said that while she did not plan to enter the world of fashion, she badly wanted to paint. But due to family impels, Sandra chose to venture into business. She received her masters degree in business administration from Webster University in Geneva, as she told Le Commerce du Levant reporter, before moving to the school of arts in the Swiss capital. And in a twist of fate, she returned to Lebanon in 2006 to enroll in Elie Saab’s school of fashion, and from there, decided to focus on a career in fashion design. To quench her thirst and gain more experience in the industry, Sandra headed to Paris where she received an M.S in fashion design from the Instituto Marangoni. Nevertheless, Sandra did not want to launch her own line from Paris but from her homeland, she told the magazine, and was staunch to enter the trade that is still largely confined to men. In preparation for her first collection, Sandra said, she applied for a USD 200 thousand loan from Kafalat Foundation that was channeled primarily for the rent of a workshop and the purchase of required sewing machinery, in addition to the employment of three women assistants to help her. The credit was not enough, Sandra told Le Commerce, for she had to buy the fabrics among other ingredients and recruit more employees, and hence, needed to rely on smart marketing tools to carry on. Despite the difficulties she faced in the beginning, Sandra boasted that she now has her own atelier in Jemayzeh neighborhood of Beirut, and has some 17 fashion assistants. Most importantly, she concluded, she has 15 points of sale in the UK and the Arab countries, and her reputation has expanded to Asia and the US. (Le Commerce du Levant, May, 2017)

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Amal: Syrian woman and a new victim of domestic violence

16-5-2017

Amal Ali Khalil is a new victim of domestic violence in Lebanon. Khalil, 18 years, Syrian, was rushed to Tamnin Hospital in Baalbak on Sunday with bruises all over her body caused by her husband Hilal Mohamad Khalil (35 years). In the details reported by An Nahar newspaper, doctors at first sight thought it was brought about by ruthless beating to be shocked later by the findings of the clinical examination. The latter, Amal clarified, was the outcome of five long days of sadism and cruelty practiced by the victim’s husband on his wife’s body while holding her captive. The motive behind the aggression, she said, is to reprimand her for being not clean enough in her house, or rather, in the tent that shelters her and her 6-month old daughter, along with the children from her husband’s first wife, who she added, have joined in the act of torture. The information Department at the Internal Security Forces has reportedly arrested the perpetrator who confessed to brutalizing his wife using pointed objects in the town of Sareen, and was transferred to the Investigations Department in Baalbak. For her part, Amal’s mother who carried her daughter to the hospital said she has no choice but to sue Hilal (the husband), demanding that the media relay the case of Amal. This case, the mother said, should prompt all NGOs and associations concerned with the rights of women and Syrian refugees to act and put an end to the growing phenomenon of violence and abuse against women and children. (An Nahar, May 16, 2017)

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International Nurses Day celebration

16-5-2017

La Sagesse University marked yesterday the International Nurses Day celebrated on May 12 of each year at the invitation of its president, Khalil Shalfun. The event was organized in collaboration with the Order of Nurses in Lebanon and the Francophone University Agency, and under the auspices of minister of health, Ghassan Hasbani. On the occasion, La Sagesse School of Public Health held an exhibition and conference under the theme: “A voice to lead, achieving the sustainable development goals’, which saw the participation of Bahij Arbid, who represented Minister Hasbani and the president of the Order of Nurses, Nuhad Dumit. The dean of public health, Professor Ramez Chaheen, pointed out to a serious shortage in nursing staff in the country in general, and in hospitals, in particular. Likewise, Shalfun stressed the need to spread awareness on the importance of the nursing profession and promoting the good impact the sector has at the level of national health. Dumit, for her part, disclosed a 3-year programme to build nursing capacities set by the Order and involving training of men and women nurses inside and outside of hospitals in order to train their peers in their localities and normalize nursing standards across the country. Arbid, in his turn, said that the development of the role of a nurse has generated vast needs for key, but still underprovided, specialties, like for example, emergency and geriatric medicine. He underlined the necessity of provision of similar disciplines to address the largest part of local needs to this effect, and always, in coordination with the Order of Nurses, the universities and the ministry of education. There is a growing need, Arbid maintained, to review the law regulating the nursing profession, as well as bridging the gap between college and vocational education in nursing. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, May 16, 2017)

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Agricultural bodies demand the renewal of export support plan

16-5-2017

Agricultural organisations issued a joint appeal to the Cabinet demanding the return to the maritime agricultural and industrial export support plan which expired on March 31st. Earlier on March 15th, the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), submitted a proposal for a one-year renewal of the sea bridge program through allocating a sum of LBP 21 billion (USD 14 million). The circumstances that prompted the initiation of said program, IDAL explained, remained unchanged as land border crossings are still closed. The appeal was made during a conference on Saturday attended by deputy head of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mounir Tini, head of Owners of Refrigerated Trucks, Omar Ali, head of Exporters of Vegetables and Fruits, Naim Khalil, head of the Association of Beqaa Farmers, Ibrahim Tarshishi and head of Truck Owners, Shafik Kasis. Tini grieved the government’s overall disregard of the agricultural sector. He pressed the need for the council of ministers’ approval to restore the support that has been suspended since last March, rather than bringing on an unwanted closure of roads by discontented farmers and producers. Ali, for his part, pointed out that as agricultural seasons are near, “we give the authorities a 10 day ultimatum to okay the subsidy plan, after which we shall take to the streets on Tuesday, May 23,” he warned. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, May 14 and 15, 2017)
 

Previous related news: 

Only 1% of Lebanese government budget allocated to agriculture
Extension of subsidies to maritime export until March 2017 following the decline of Lebanese exports
First year results of M.LEB below expectations
Criticisms of export program and industrialists calls for further measures

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Honoring headmistress of a public school in Saida

15-5-2017

Al Islah Intermediate public school in Saida organized on Saturday a ceremony in honor of its headmistress, Amal Rustom, who completed a long career in the fields of education and administration. The event was held under the auspices of chair of the Parliamentary Educational and Cultural Committee, MP Bahiya Hariri. On the occasion, the newly assigned school head, Mohamad Booz, said his job and responsibilities after Rustom “shall not be easy”. Rustom was a successful head teacher and “the sought-for model in public schools and teaching in Lebanon”, Booz maintained. He urged the ministry of education to properly and justly reward competent educators and to discipline unapt teachers. For her part, Hariri recalled her career years in Islah School. She commended Rustom’s ambitious inspirations and endeavors, who she said, has given all her love and devotion to the mission of education, and has coached generations in Saida on good articulation, kindness, co-existence and sense of belonging. At the close of the ceremony, honorary shields were handed over to Rustom, who also received honorable mention from the Educational District. (Al Mustaqbal, May 14, 2017)

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