News

The southern town of Hebbariyeh launched yesterday its annual tourism festival at the historic temple of Baal Jad bringing together the villages of Arkoob district under the umbrella of the Federation of Municipalities in the area. The event was held in the presence of Walid Barakat, Secretary General of the Lebanese Democratic Party, President of the Federation of Arkoub Municipalities, Mohamad Saab, Commander of UNIFIL’s Indian Battalion, Barta Saha and the representative of the Islamic Group (Jamaa Islamiya) in Hasbaya and Marje3yoon, Wasseem Sweyd. Stressing the need to support and encourage similar activities, Saab said, “Heritage is about memory and in memory there is life.” For his part, President of the Festival Committee, Wael Barakat, boasted the beautiful and historic assets of Hebbariyeh which make it a distinguished destination for rural tourism. However, he added, the governments’ historical neglect to the area has weakened this trait, pointing that the Committee is determined to keep such activities alive. The festival kicked off with a display of the rural products and traditional mooneh items followed by an honoring ceremony for former town chiefs. (Al Mustaqbal, 24 August 2015)

The Artisan Cooperative for the Manufacture, Production and Marketing of Pottery opened last week in Rashayya Al Fakhar with the support of and funding from UNIFIL, the UNDP and the Rashayya Municipality. UNFIL Spanish Commander of the Eastern Sector, Jose Kondi, praised the hospitality of the people of Rashayya Al Fakhar, adding that this new initiative reflects UNIFIL’s commitment to cooperate in developing traditional Lebanese industries, mainly the historic pottery sector, and help this craft industry to access foreign markets. After the opening event, invitees conducted a tour on the coop and were briefed on the art of pottery making. (Al Mustaqbal, 23 August 2015)

As part of its first crafts show, the Cultural League in Tripoli, North Lebanon, organized a seminar under the title ‘Empowerment of Women, Empowerment of Humanity’. Speaking at the event were the economic expert Elie Yashui who emphasized the significant role of women in society and Leila Salhab, the Chairperson of the Lebanese Business Women’s Association who underlined the importance of women’s affiliation with economic associations. She added that joining establishments such as the chambers of commerce and industry as well as the industrialists and trade bodies, is likely to facilitate women’s access to decision making positions. After touring the exhibition, Salhab honored each of Yashui, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for the North, Tawfik Dabusi and Head of the Cultural League Ramiz Ferri. (Al Mustaqbal, 22 August 2015)

Byblos Bank published on Wednesday, in cooperation with the American University of Beirut AUB, the results of the Byblos Bank/AUB Consumer Confidence Index for the first half of 2015 which showed a decline for January and February and an improvement in March followed by a relapse in April and a slight growth during the months of May and June 2015. The average monthly index scored 37.7 points during the first half of the year, with no visible change from the fourth quarter of last year, 2014; while it grew by 4.3% during the second half of 2015 scoring 39.3 points. As Safir daily reported that despite the improvement noted in the second quarter of the present year, nearly 79.7% of the Lebanese people surveyed considered that their financial situation has worsened compared to the past six months, 4.3% said they noted a growth and 16% of citizens thought their financial status did not change. Senior economics expert and head of the economic research and analysis at Byblos Bank, Nassib Ghobril, warned that above results do not reflect a change in the confidence index of consumers or a fundamental alteration in the view or attitude of Lebanese households, particularly that only 9.7% of respondents anticipated an improvement in their financial situation in the upcoming six months, 69.6% thought their finances would weaken during that period and 18.9% anticipated a no-change situation. Likewise, index results for the first half of 2015 showed the following: females posted relatively higher confidence rates compared to males; consumers within the age group 21-29 years have recorded a higher confidence rate against other age groups; households with near or over USD2500 monthly income had a higher confidence compared to lower income households. Besides, private sector employees reflected higher confidence against state workers, self-employed, jobless persons or housewives during the first half of 2015. (An Nahar, As Safir, 19 & 20 August 2015)

The Mothers’ Committee in Lebanon held an educational orientation seminar with the aim to 'create jobs in rural areas, encourage the young people to stay in Lebanon and work and rehabilitate cadres in the tourism and hospitality professions’. The activity was organized in coordination with the Association for Social Development PRODES and the Administration and Services Institute launched by the Municipality of Byblos in Maad area. The seminar took place at the residence of MP Riad Rahal in the presence of PRODES chairperson, Juliana Najm and mayors, heads and school directors and students and other people concerned. After her elaborate outline of the project, Najm maintained that the program provides young men and women with jobs and at the same time equips the hotels and tourism establishments in Akkar with skilled persons and qualified professionals. For his part, MP Rahal pointed out that Lebanon lacks skilled workforce in the sector, demanding that the Tourism Ministry open an office in Akkar to this end. (Al Mustaqbal, 17 August 2015)

In a follow up of the success stories by Lebanese youth of both sexes, L’Orient Le Jour daily published in today’s issue an interview with French journalist and blogger of Lebanese origin, Samar Siraki De Botafoko publisher of (unelibanaiseaparis.com). Motivated by the positive feedback received from young Lebanese living in France, Siraki organized in Lebanon a get-together for some 140 young men and women followers of her Blog. In the interview, Samar noted that she wanted to share her journalistic experience in the domain of fashion and art as a message to the pioneering and creative Lebanese young people so that they persevere despite the discouraging economic context. Looking with optimism to the future, Samar indicated that Lebanon is starting to attract investors. To be noted that Samar Siraki began her career at ‘D8 Channel’ before switching to ‘TV5 Monde’ and then ‘France 24’ the Arabic network and in parallel has kicked off her own Blog. (L’Orient Le Jour, 21 August 2015)