News

After its opening of the Beqaa and South branches, the Christian non-governmental organization for employment, Labora, inaugurated a new center in the Batroon under the patronage of the Maronite Bishopric in Australia and in collaboration with the Batroun Archdiocese. The launching of the new center comes as part of a joint plan aiming to serve and enable the Christian youth to steadfast in their homeland and to provide them with employment opportunities. The plan also seeks to help the young generation make better use of public facilities and services in order to better participate in shaping the future of their country. (Al Diyar, December 31, 2015)

 

The National Codex Committee for Lebanon and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, concluded yesterday the implementation of the National Codex Alimentarius Structural Support Project under the patronage of Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb who was represented by his advisor, Anwar Daou, and with participation of a number of concerned figures. During the commemoration ceremony which took place in the Beirut suburb of Hadath, FAO Regional MENA Director, Fatmeh Hashem, highlighted the importance of the ongoing process of harmonising the local food criteria with the Codex standards. She stressed the need to work hard on protecting consumers and secure access to international markets of made-in-Lebanon food products, as well as to enhance the country’s role as a regional coordinator for the above Committee in the Near East. For his part, Daou noted that the “people have the right to safe and good quality foods,” adding that “food-borne diseases could be fatal sometimes and have a bad impact on national economy, and could also be detrimental to the reputation of the producing country, and therefore affect the tourism and trade industries. Finally, Daou emphasised that commitment to global market requirements has become a priority, thus referring to the country’s recent approval of the food safety law. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, December 30, 2015)

 

The Consul General, Antoine Akiki, announced during a ceremony held last Monday at Kfarzebian’s Town Hall in Kesrwan, the start of implementation of a new eco-friendly and culturally sensitive touristic initiative called "Janain al Shams". The new village compound will comprise 3 neighborhoods with 23 Lebanese traditional houses, a forest stretching over some 5 thousand square meters and a gigantic Christmas cave to promote religious tourism. The prime purpose of the USD5 million-worth project is to develop rural tourism in the area and to attract Lebanese emigrants back to their homeland and heritage, according to Akiki who added that construction works in the project are expected to begin early next spring. He also summarized the positive impact of the project as follows: create jobs in the construction and engineering sectors during the first phase, new jobs in the tourism industry after the opening, promote tourism in the area and stimulate the national economy. 

Al Diyar, December 30, 2015 

 

In collaboration with the German KAS foundation, the Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) held yesterday a conference entitled ‘Development of Women’s Participation in Politics’ at the July Hall in Baalbaq. Some 125 women of all ages, from various towns and of different social and political views took part in the conference, including 11 winners in the latest municipal elections.  Dr. Rami Laqis, head of LOST, pointed out that the conference was not an ordinary lecture, but rather an interactive and reflective platform for women’s issues that will produce recommendations to be implemented at a later stage. In the same vein, former minister, Wafaa Dika, described the problematic situation of women right in Lebanon, noting that “participation is a right that should not be forsaken no matter what the difficulties,” and should  be transformed into a solid and practical force. “Women in Lebanon have not achieved their rights in (political) participation because of certain laws, like the Personal Status and Nationality laws and the Penal Code,” Dika said, adding that the main requisite for political reform is the adoption of a modern municipal and electoral law that could redress the present situation and that will include a women’s representation quota as a temporary equity measure. (As Safir, December 29, 2015)

 

In its issue of today, the Daily Star shed light on a unique experience by a Lebanese woman from Bayssarieh, Saida, who is presently recycling her household waste into useful items. Bahiya Qoteish explained that the idea of undertaking recycling came to her after completing a training workshop organized by the Center for Development Services run by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Qoteish told the newspaper that instead of throwing away carton, like egg cartons for example, she is recycling them into handy tools that can be used at home. She even showcased her creations at several local fairs with the support of the Bayssarieh Center for Development Services. Qoteish said she was pleased with what she was doing; especially that it has given her the opportunity to become an active and productive member of her community, promising to work hard to develop her skills and artistic talents. (Daily Star, December 29, 2015)

 

In cooperation with Afak Association-Rashya and West-Bekaa Development Center, the National Employment Office, NEO, distributed last week diplomas for some 20 graduates from the area who completed an intensive IT training course. The ceremony took place at Kamal Jumblat’s Socio-Cultural Center in Rashayya in the presence of the Health Minister, Wael Abu Faoor and Vice President of the Lebanese Development Forum, Wehbi Abu Faoor. The latter lauded the development objectives of Afaq as well as NEO’s efforts to improve the conditions of remote rural areas. For his part, Afaq head, Ahmad Thabet, stressed the importance of developing the professional and technical skills of the beneficiaries of the IT program. (Al Mustaqbal, December 29, 2015)

 

In his staunch efforts to develop the national industry, particularly at cross-sectoral and regional levels, the President of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, LIA, headed a meeting yesterday with representatives of the syndicate of Owners of Food Industries to discuss the current situation and ways for better cooperation with the food industry sector. LIA President, Fadi Gemayel, after his meeting with head of the Syndicate’s new board of directors, Ahmad Hoteyt, called for the preparation of a five-year vision for the food industry as well as a detailed plan to increase exports over the next three years. He stressed the sector’s high quality and international standards, as well as its authentic Lebanese flavor. Gemayel also urged food industrialists to redouble their efforts to access new markets and boost exports to Africa, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Iraq, Iran, China, Russia, and Britain. While encouraging food manufacturers to pursue the British BRC certification, he noted that globalization challenges and current limitations of the sector in Lebanon, particularly high costs of production, argue for better specialization in upgrading quality and up scaling exports. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, December 29, 2015)

 

As part of their joint commitment to provide an enabling environment for the establishment and development of startups and small and medium enterprises in Lebanon, Berytech and Berytech Fund participated on December 10 and 11 in the conference to this effect sponsored by the General Bank of Lebanon. Over 7000 visitors, including Lebanese men and women entrepreneurs, investors and supporting institutions partook in the event entitled ‘Stepping Up Businesses for the Year 2015’. Berytech and Berytech Fund organized many side activities that address the needs of entrepreneurs, starting from the concept of a business up to the development of the product and plans for funding and expansion. During the conference, Berytech Fund revealed its investments for the year 2015 which stood at a total of USD20 million. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, December 25 and 28, 2015)

 

The Shuf Biosphere Reserve concluded yesterday the implementation of the EU-funded framework project aiming to promote socio-economic sustainable development through innovative technological actions so as to preserve Mediterranean tourism-heritage, HELAND, with a ceremony held at the National Library of Baaqline. Participants in the celebration highlighted the results of the project which was co-financed under the ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme, and in partnership with Malta, Spain, Cyprus, Palestine and Jordan. The project in Lebanon is implemented by the Shuf Reserve, in collaboration with the Lebanese University-Faculty of Tourism. The latter’s pilot work covered the following heritage locations: The Shuf Cedar Reserve, Beaufort Castle and the Forest of Bkassine in the Jezzine. During the closing ceremony, the Shuf Reserve’s administrative coordinator, Samer Zubian, stressed the general aim of the project which was to protect natural and cultural heritage of participant countries through the application of modern and 3D technologies in geographic information systems. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, December 28, 2015)

 

As part of the campaign ‘Your Right is a Guarantee for Your Family’, SMART Center for Media and Advocacy organized last week a meeting at Rashid Karami’s Cultural Center in Tripoli in the presence of the President of the Federation of Fayhaa Municipalities, Amer Rafi3i to discuss the need for reform of the social security laws and systems in Lebanon. SMART representative, Randa Yassir, highlighted the injustice and discrimination against women prevalent in a number of clauses of social security laws. She stressed that provisions related to family compensation, pension, layoff, hospitalization and medical care reflect a clear discriminatory approach. Yassir also outlined the Campaign’s demands, goals and strategies. (Al Mustaqbal, December 27, 2015)