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The President of the Order of Engineers and Architects (OEA), Khaled Shehab said last week that the Order seeks to cooperate with all universities in the country so as to become a pioneer in specialized scientific research in the various engineering disciplines and in order that raise professional standards. Shehab in his lecture before the Antonine University students underlined that such a policy primarily “needs proper planning and preparation at the university levels, perseverance and follow-up of the latest international developments in the field, and participation in all the seminars and courses organized by the OEA throughout the year.” Shehab, while noting the presence of over 60 thousand members in the Beirut and Tripoli Orders, maintained that the number was not hard to deal with provided that local, Arab and global labor markets were in actual need of such specialties. Anything less, OEA chair warned, will overwhelm the market with an annual excess of graduates that might reach 4600 engineers. On a parallel level, he pointed out to an acute shortage in the assisting professions. This, he added, renders our national economy dependent on unskilled foreign workforce and reinforces the emigration of educated youth. (Al Diyar, April 15, 2016)

 

As part of the initiative to rehabilitate inmates inside and outside prison, Dar Al Amal association distributed certificates for about 20 inmates at the Baabda Women Prison who completed training courses in sewing and hairdressing. The project is in partnership with the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs, Sarah’s Bag and DIACONIA Sweden for International Development and Cooperation. It should be noted, that Dar Al Amal has since 1996 embarked on helping inmates in the acquisition of skills they need to improve their living conditions inside three women jails across Lebanon, mainly in Baabda, Tripoli and Zahle. It has also sought to assist convicted women in the development of their capacities and in facing challenges in order to reintegrate them in society. (Al Mustaqbal, April 19, 2016)

 

With the upcoming municipal elections, the Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped (LWAH) organized last Friday a workshop entitled ‘Supporting Women in Municipal Elections’ under the auspices of Randa Berri, LWAH President and vice president of the Lebanese Women Association. During the event, Dr. Rabab Aoun, head of the Women Association, pointed out to the low percentage of women (4.7%) in municipalities, and a rare representation at the level of electoral boards.” To this effect, Berri proposed some measures to adjust the present situation: firstly, formation of a follow-up committee from the above association and the women’s offices at the various political factions, with the aim to contact concerned circles, particularly, political parties and pressure them to adopt a women’s quota. Secondly, formation of sub-committees that will work to raise awareness among women about the importance of participation in elections, both as candidates and voters, and thirdly, asking media campaigners supportive of women issues to contribute to the electoral experience. In this context, and as part of the ‘Lebanese Women for Municipalities’ program, the United Nations, the National Democratic Institute and Women in Front organization organized last Saturday a training session in preparation for the municipal and mayoral elections. During the workshop, which was held at the YWCA in Beirut, the organization’s executive director, Samira Maasri, emphasized the need to develop leadership in women, who, she said, have outstanding potentials but need assistance to develop. In the same vein, Al Diyar newspaper reported in its issue of today, that the civil society in the North, led by the head of the Engineering Department at the Mina municipality in Tripoli, Amer Hadda, is finalizing a list of women, in collaboration with activist Huda Sabagh to promote their municipal role. (Al Diyar, April 16 and 18, 2016)

 

During its quarterly conference yesterday at the Bristol Hotel in Beirut, Data and Investment Consult-Lebanon launched the BePlan, a virtual business incubator and a network of support sites to bolster small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Lebanon. The event which took place under the auspices of the minister of economy and trade, represented by his media consultant Raya Kik, also saw the launching of the periodic training group, in addition to a program that provides students with unlimited creativity opportunities. The latter, it should be noted, was designed to serve as an economic and commercial venture in the life of students. Discussions during the conference mainly tackled: finding ways to improve the working environment of SMEs after the assessment and comparison between Lebanese and the Arab situations; reviewing SME saving and the credit systems and addressing the difficulties of SME financing. Participants also examined the role and empowerment of women in said enterprises. At the end of the conference, the following recommendations were issued calling for: developing a comprehensive vision and work plan for business incubators; legalizing the status of SMEs which eases taxes imposed on them, and facilitating the entry of these enterprises to secondary markets operating under the Beirut Stock Exchange market under the terms of international exchange. The conferees also pressed for the accession to a number of agreements, notably, the technical regulations draft law, conformity assessment procedures, the draft bill for the specifications of free trade between Lebanon and members of the European Free Trade Association, in addition to developing the specialized capacities of SMEs. (As Safir, An Nahar, April 15, 2016)

 

The Minister of Economy and Trade, Dr. Alan Hakim, submitted last week the economic vision and plan of his ministry to the cabinet for discussion. He requested the formation of a joint economic ministerial committee to the same effect. Expounding on the said plan, the minister said it is largely based on realistic and practical objectives while aiming at the following: “readdressing the financial situation, improving the business environment so as to encourage investment, trade and capital inflows, mobilizing private sector initiatives and potentials, tackling the effects of Syrian refugee crisis on domestic economy, controlling the wage bill, managing public debt, and developing partnership between the public and private sectors.” Hakim went on to explain, that this new vision covers all economic sectors, including small and medium enterprises, the industry and agriculture sectors. It is aimed at stimulating the economy, entrepreneurship, infrastructure projects, he added, as well as creating jobs and attracts private Arab and international investments, with a strong focus on the “Lebanization of the economy”. (Al Diyar, April 15, 2015)

 

The Syndicate of Nurseries Owners in Lebanon organized yesterday a conference on ‘early childhood’ under the auspices of the Health Minister Wael Abu Faoor, and the presence of daycare owners from across the country and the Arab world. On the occasion, the Syndicate’s President Hana Huhu stressed the need to resolve the challenges faced by the daycares and develop their capacities and skills. She warned that the “mother who cannot find a proper and safe nursery for her child, ought to keep him/her at home rather than leave him/her at an illegal center that does not observe the basic required standards.” Huhu also emphasized the importance of nursery hunting on part of the parents in order to choose the right one. Parents should sometimes overlook the price factor in deciding, Huhu explained, because higher costs are associated with quality of services offered, adding:: “There are professional places that require an expensive operational cost which means their prices would be higher compared to nurseries that are illegitimate with poor conditions”. The subject of daycares in Lebanon has a special significance for the Lebanese. After finishing their maternity leave, working mothers starts looking for an alternative support system namely day-care centres in the case of absence of support from the extended family. It should be noted, that according to the ministry of health 2015 figures, there are some 304 operating nurseries, out of which 205 are illegal, thus prompting the ministry to launch a campaign for their closure. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Hayat, April 14, 2016)

 

On the sidelines of the HORECA Hospitality Fair which was organized between April 5-8 at Biel, Beirut, L’Orient Le Jour interviewed a number of involved business persons to learn more about the catering industry. The President of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night Clubs and Pastries in Lebanon, Toni Ramy, pointed out that frequenting bars and cafes has fallen by nearly 20% from between 2011 and 2015, tracing the decline to numerous factors. The most important being the turmoil in the local and regional security and political situation which has had its heavy toll on the tourism sector in Lebanon, added to the recent trash crisis. Another reason was the ongoing food safety campaign which many concerned circles blame for the current chaos the sector is witnessing. Similarly, the director of Hodema, a leading provider of professional consulting services in the hospitality industry, Naji Morkus, indicated a drop by 30% in 2015 of the total sales in the country as a result of the weakening domestic purchasing power. However, L’Orient Le Jour explained that notwithstanding the grim image at present, the hospitality sector is still resilient. It cited Ramy as saying that some 300 establishments are expected to kick off in the next two years. This fact was confirmed by the Joint Burger network of restaurants managers who revealed the launch of some 8 points of sale across Lebanon since its inception back in 2010. (L’Orient Le Jour, April 8, 2016)