News

Some 31 producers and Lebanese coops participated in Horeca 2015 which was held at Biel last week with the support of USAID funded “Lebanon Industry Value Chain Development” project.  In a statement issued by USAID, the latter noted that during the exhibition small and medium agricultural producers, olive oil and honey producers organized tasting sessions on a daily basis at the panel leased by the project.  According to Nasser Lama, the technical director of the project, Lebanese products, have good capabilities to compete on regional and international market.  He added that the LIVCD project provides its beneficiaries with technical support for the adoption of new agro-processing techniques, assists in capacity building through the organization of specialized workshops, as well as investments for reinforcement and development. (As Safir, 25 April 2015)

AL Diyar newspaper published an article yesterday by Rana Jouni in which she criticizes women wearing the veil as a fashion and where she refers to veiled women who also wear makeup and fashionable accessories or who replace their traditional abayas with tight jeans. Jouni noted that this new trend of the contemporary Hijab is not in line with the common definition and understanding of the Hijab. The author quotes Islamic researcher Abed el Hadi Munther who noted that this kind of a veil is “a Western creation which aims at undermining and controlling societies”, adding that this was largely facilitated “by the influx of soap operas which have taken over Islamic societies rapidly”. The author of the article did not only criticize harshly women who wear modern versions of the Hijab but also raised questions as to who is responsible for what she calls “a dangerous deviation”. We have chosen to highlight this article for two reasons which are not related to the common debate around the veil. First, we perceive the author’s opinion as an infringement of personal freedoms and liberties.  Secondly, we consider that the continuous focus on women’s clothing and attire is a sexist and patriarchal behavior whereas men’s attires are never put into question. (Al Diyar, 22 April 2015)

The food safety campaign spearheaded by Minister Abuo Faour last year do not seem to have had an overall negative impact on the food and tourism sectors in Lebanon. Economic expert Walid Abu Suleiman told Al Diyar newspaper that despite the shock wave caused by the campaign in the tourism sector, things have nevertheless settled back to normal and restaurants turnover has increased by 20%, adding that consumers have regained their trust in local production and in the tourism sector. Abu Suleiman confirmed that there was need for special emergency measures to protect the national economy since it was not dramatically affected by the food safety campaign. In parallel with that campaign, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon, Mohammed Choucair, inaugurated a new food safety training centre. In an interview with the Al Diyar, Choucair noted that the training centre will organize next month, and in collaboration with selected Ministers, the graduation ceremony for some 750 students who successfully completed their courses at the Training Centre. Choucair stressed that any self-respecting organization should aim to acquire this degree which is likely to become compulsory according to Minister of Industry, Hussein Hajj Hassan. He also praised the collaboration between the private and the public sectors. Within the same vein, the Minister of Economy and Trade, Alain Hakim announced in a statement yesterday, and on the occasion of the safe food industry day in Lebanon, that seven food processing industries have succeeded in adopting the food safety management system which is based on international standards and have acquired ISO certification. Furthermore, and during the opening of the previously mentioned event which was organized by the Syndicate of Food Industrialists in parallel with the launch of the annual Horeca exhibition, Minister Hajj Hassan referred to the food safety campaign and denied allegations that it was targeting the food industry. He acknowledged that there were gaps in certain enterprises but that these gaps were largely over-ridden by the positive results recorded by the sector. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, 23 April 2015)

In a statement issued by Insaan, members of general security stormed its offices the day before yesterday and arrested its assistant director Chantal Hourairi. The communiqué noted that this was an arbitrary arrest and late into the night Hourairi was still in detention. The advocacy office of the association, Rola Hamati, explained that Insaan contacted the district attorney who confirmed to her that he did not issue any arrest order but simply asked that that Hourairi be questioned on a number of issues. Hamati noted for her part that this arrest seemingly came as a trade off with J. Shoumar and R. Arangani.  She clarified that both Shoumar and Arangani have been detained by general security since April 8th though no charges were brought against them but with the intention of deporting them along with their daughter.  While this was taking place, the Judge of urgent matter court issued a decision prohibiting the deportation of Rinoca and postponing it for three weeks and so as to conduct an in-depth investigation.  Juvenile judge had also issued a judgment ordering Suzan to be placed under the care of Insaan and prohibiting her transfer to any party except via a court order.  Several associations had spoken up in September 2014 against the GM decision to freeze the renewal of work permits in categories 3 and 4 namely low income domestic, agricultural and industrial workers, who have had children in Lebanon as well as freeze the renewal of residencies for their children thus leading to their deportation.  On a similar note, the Consul of Liberia in Lebanon, Anwar Ezzedine, met with a number of officials to discuss the case of the detailed Liberian women workers in Lebanon. Ezzedine noted that the official were sympathetic to workers who were detained and indicated that they will speed up those procedures which guarantee their legal rights and will ensure their early release.  As a result, tens of women detainees were released and it is expected that the files of the remaining four cases will be subsequently studied. (As Safir, Al Akhbar, 21 & 22 April 2015)

Within the framework of the investment initiative in the MENA region funded by USAID, and for the purpose of contributing to limiting high unemployment rates in the region, creating new job opportunity, boosting sustainable social development and economic growth, USAID and Berytech jointly launched the “Insure and Match Capital” initiative in the presence of US Ambassador David Hill, Vice Assistant to the USAID Director, Mona Yacubian, USAID director in Lebanon, Caroline Bryan and Berytech’s president Maroon Shammas. The investment fund amounting to USD 15 million will spread over three years and will include three key components, namely supporting investment, guaranteeing the rights and interests of investors, and technical support. In his speech during the opening, Shammas noted that despite the significant efforts exerted during the past few years, there is still a gap in key components required by business people in Lebanon to allow them to start their businesses. He added that the collaboration with USAID will assist in invigorating the Lebanese economy, limit migration, create job opportunities and will provide skills and potentials for innovators to launch their businesses. The director of Insure and Match Capital, Nicolas Ruhana, stated that the new project will go beyond financing and will include capacity building, orientation as well as creating business development networks. (Al Mustaqbal, 16 April 2015)

As part of its global economic forecasts issued last week, the IMF estimated that real GDP growth in Lebanon will reach 2.5% this year thus recording a slight improvement over 2014 rate of 2.0%. The report expects that GDP will reach USD 54.7 billion in the current year compared to USD 49.9 billion in 2014 and USD 47.6 billion in 2013. With a population estimation of 4.6 million inhabitants, the GDP per capita is expected to reach USD12006 thus rising from USD 11068 in 2014 and USD 10655 in 2013. This slight improvement in the economic performance is accompanied by the relative stabilization of inflation. The IMF expects a low inflation rate of 1.1% in 2015 compared to 1.9% in 2014 and 4.8% in 2013 especially as a result of the global drop in oil prices. Furthermore, IMF added that the decline in oil imports this year will reflect positively on the country’s trade deficit compared to the GDP which will decrease to 22.2% in 2015, from 26.7% in 2013 and 24.9% in 2014.

The Lebanese Cooperative Association for Development (LCAD) was created in 1992 through an initiative by Father Yoakim Mubarak. It was set up by 400 Maronite personalities with each donating part of its capital which totaled USD 800 million.  At its onset, LCAD aimed at providing small credits to help Maronites overcome problems resulting from the war, halting the demographic erosion of Christian communities and encouraging their members to steadfast on their lands and curtail domestic migration to the capital. Since its inception, the financial services of the cooperative covers all Lebanese regions while targeting existing or emerging agricultural, handcrafts and food processing projects. LCAD charges a low interest rate of 6.5%, compared to average 13% charged by other credit institutions. While the association’s declared aim is to provide credits to Maronites only, it has shown some flexibility and has reached other Christian communities as well, according to Serge Uayss who has been managing the association for the past 7 years. The association is affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture unlike all others microfinance organizations which are affiliated to the Ministry of Social Affairs. In 2014, the association gave a total of 430 credits amounting to USD 2 million. The total number and value of credits increased during 2014 by 29% and 30% respectively. The association’s accrued profits by the end of 2014 amounted to USD 25,000 only. According to Uayss, LCAD received in 2011 a USAID grant of USD 12 million. The association also collaborates with three commercial banks; notably Byblos, Libano-Francaise and BLT and maintains strong partnership with the General Administration of Catholic Schools and the Maronite Research Centre. (L’Orient Le Jour, 21 April 2015)

‘Chaml’ association organized last Friday at 5:30 pm a sit in at the Martyrs Square with the participation of women who had a civil marriage along with their husbands and children. The purpose was to call for a unified civil family code.  For more coverage of the event, please go to the following link:
http://bit.ly/1G2QRIV