News

Al Hayat carried a special article on the occasion of the 20th anniversary this September of the United Nations Basic Program for Advancing Women’s Rights, the ‘Beijing Declaration’ which was endorsed by 189 states. The article noted that attending countries in 1995 could not anticipate the impact of the information technology and communications revolution that opened the doors for unprecedented opportunities. All this said, the newspaper noted that some 60% of world population (i.e. 4.4 billion people) remains not ‘connected’, with women making the largest disadvantaged proportion. The GSM (Group Special Mobile Association) recently published a report entitled ‘bridging the gender gap: mobile ownership and uses in low and middle income countries’ in which it tackled the issue of women’s ownership and uses of mobiles. The report indicated that over 1.7 billion women in countries of the above category do not have a cell phone, i.e. 14% less than men in this regard. Subsequently, the total number of women owning a mobile phone is less by 200 million than men. This gender gap is even wider in some regions, like for example in South Asia, where it is estimated at 38%. The survey also predicted that realizing gender equality in mobile ownership and usage among low and middle income communities could have several economic and social advantages, namely: the creation of jobs and education for some 200 million women, an addition of USD 170 billion in new job prospects in the field of telecommunications per year by 2020. Globally, the report noted some key hindering factors that prevent women from possessing cell phones, mainly, the high charge or cost of phones, lack of proper mobile networks or poor coverage, harassment calls, personal insecurity, lack of confidence in mobile sales persons and inadequate technical skills to use them. (Al Hayat, 14 July 2015)

The president of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon IDAL, Nabil Itani, announced that the implementation of the Cabinet decision to support agricultural and industrial exports will start in early August pointing that the delay was due to a delay in publishing of the relevant decree and the absence of sufficient number of Ro-Ro vessels to transport the trucks loaded with Lebanese goods. Itani confirmed that IDAL has commissioned Lebanese shipping agencies to look for carriers in the Mediterranean countries and has assigned specialized companies to inspect the compliance of the products bound for export according with international specifications while ensuring that products are effectively of Lebanese origin. Itani expected some 200 thousand tons of agricultural produce and some 500 trucks loaded with industrial goods to benefit from the LBP 21 billion allocation over a period of 7 months, on the basis of as subsidy amounting to USD1750-2250 per truck. IDAL president revealed that until now he did receive the expected implementation decrees, noting however that the latter is ready and was signed by 18 ministers. He also noted that specialized sections in IDAL are coordinating actions, particularly those working on the AGRO PLUS program for support of agricultural exports and have extensive experience in the field.
(Al Mustaqbal, 14 July 2015)
For more information, please refer to the two news below:
- Cabinet support to farming exports welcomed but considered insufficient
- Little information on the mechanism for subsidizing agricultural sea exports

A new food safety project has kicked off this week in the Baalbaq - Hermel region with the support of a team of specialists trained in HACCP (Hazard Analysis &Critical Control Point food safety management system) and targeting various business of the area. The initiative which is a pilot for the local community sectors will be implemented by the Municipality of Baalbek in collaboration with 6 federations representing, Baalbaq, West Baalbaq, North Baalbek, East Baalbaq, Al Shallal and Hermel. The project protocol was signed between the said unions, the Islamic Health Society and Community Action Society. The number of establishments which will be targeted, based on a survey, comprises some 4500 food establishments, including bakeries, restaurants, meat shops, slaughter houses, fish markets and food stores. The implementation of the program commences with the organization of guidance and orientation workshops for food company owners on how to attain the best conditions for their facilities in terms of hygiene, tool disinfection and safety, storage, sources and production dates of food products. Qualified food establishments are expected to receive an ISO certificate. To be noted, that the project will have an annual budget of USD 220 thousand that will largely be raised from the member federations. (As Safir, 11 July 2015)

Agricultural cooperatives, associations, farmers and exporters in Akkar, have reiterated their demand for the opening of the Kleiat Airport, as an air shipping facility that could contribute to resolving the crisis of exports and addressing the difficulties in marketing of thousands of tons of agricultural and animal products. These demands come at a time when the Cabinet is busy working on finding alternative routes for exporting and discussing the mechanism of implementation of the recent decision to support maritime transport. The launching and operation of the said airport is an old aspiration sought by Akkar residents as it would stimulate development and services in this endemically impoverished region. The opening of the Kleiat airport will go hand in hand with the setting up of free economic zone that could host light industries, economic and banking enterprises which in turn are bound to attract investments and create thousands of jobs for the local population. To this effect, the unified committees for the reopening of Rene Moawwad Airport in Kleiat appealed once more to all political parties to exert serious efforts to this end. Hamed Zakaria, a follow-up committee member pointed that the obstacles are not technical but purely political adding that successive governments were unable to agree on that decision. Finally, he revealed that the Committees will soon undertake an advocacy action directed towards the Serail in order to press for their demand. (As Safir, 11 July 2015)

The industrial sector reportedly will need to start complying with the US food safety regulations regarding imports in accordance with the new US ‘Food Safety Modernization Act FSMA’ which will enter into effect this forthcoming August. The Vice President of the Lebanese Industrialist Association, George Nasrawi, pointed out that the new regulations have effectively given the US the right to monitor the food factories that export to its territories through an assigned inspector. Speaking to Al Diyar newspaper, Nasrawi complained that the Lebanese industrial production is facing high production costs compared to neighboring countries that are fiercely competing with Lebanon in the US markets. He urged the Lebanese Government to support the production process by subsidizing the high cost inputs, particularly, electricity and fuel. He said unlike Lebanon, many Arab countries support their local industries through financial contributions to the operational cost or by creating the favorable infrastructure. “For that reason, GCC states are now competing with our exports on foreign markets,” Nasrawi said, citing the imports of ‘potato chips’ which are flooding our markets. He finally appealed to the Lebanese government to salvage and support domestic industries in order to restore its competitiveness on international markets. (Al Diyar, 11 July 2015)

The Chief of the Tourist Institutions and Recreation Parks in the South, Ali Tabaja, urged concerned officials and the Ministry of Tourism in particular to step up efforts to place South Lebanon on the tourism promotion map. In order to support the sector, he suggested a number of measures, namely, the reduction of taxes on enterprises, special electricity rates similarly to the industrial sector, easier regulations for the establishment of new enterprises operating in the south and compensation for losses incurred during 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon. Tabaja warned that the owners of rest houses and parks in that area are suffering as a result of government’s neglect, while pointing out to the following pressing problems: the constant absence of electricity in the area, bad road conditions as well as other legal problems. (As Safir, 11 July 2015)

The southern plains of Marjeyoon, namely Ebl al Saqi, Khiam and Wazzani, swarms with displaced Syrian farmers from the Beqaa hired to help with the potato harvest season that has already started. According to Al Mustaqbal newspaper Syrian refugees from that area are forced to work with low wages to support their families and shield them from want and need. Um Ibrahim, from Raqqa, is now working the potato fields with her four daughters and her eldest son, in return for a modest daily wage of LBP 12 thousand each. She informed the newspaper that she has yet to receive aid from international relief organization. For her part, Hadeer Ahmad, a former music teacher in Syria, who today is working in the potato fields like countless others, does not mind this had labor, but laments the tragic situation in her country more than anything else. On the other hand, Michel Bash, a Lebanese farmer who contracts Syrians of all ages to work in Marjeyoon and Ebl al Saqi, stresses the vital importance of the Syrian workforce as a result of the endemic shortage of domestic labor in the area. Complaining about the challenges he is facing along with his fellow farmers, Bash referred to the recent export difficulties resulting from the closure of the land borders at Nassib Crossing. Among other threats to the development of the agriculture sector, is the illegal smuggling of potato from abroad as well as the recently introduced labor sponsorship system. (Al Mustaqbal, 10 July 2015)