News

Al Diyar newspaper published last Sunday a report about the expansion and migration of Lebanese dining franchises into the GCC because of safe environment for investments and given the worsening security situation in Lebanon.  Commenting on the issue, the general secretary of the Syndicate of restaurants and coffee shops in Lebanon, Tony Ramy, noted that a number of renown Lebanese restaurants with a famous brand have moved outside Lebanon.  He added that 60 to 70% of large trademarked and franchised institutions are now open in GCC countries such as KSA, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.  Furthermore, Ramy stressed that this expansion is positive as it secures additional income to Lebanese restaurants which will allow them to overcome the difficult domestic circumstances and will also help to market Lebanon outside.
In another vein, Ramy spoke about the problems that the sector is facing, notably in terms of food safety.  He regretted what the media has been spreading in terms of generalizations.  He also said that it is important that the directorate of consumers’ safety at the Ministry of Economy investigates the truth about any reports related to safety rather than leaving this matter to the media.  He added that some restaurants in Lebanon should be congratulated for their concern with food safety and should not be held responsible for the mistakes of others.
Source: Al-Diyar 20 October 2014

Al Ard – Lebanon, an association working on environmental protection and safety, organized during the second week-end of October, an environment day in Beit Shebab with the participation of more than 150 visitors who toured the natural sites and got to know the local arts and crafts including the Naffa3 Naffa3 bell making workshop which exists since the 18th century.  Visitors also inspected the environmental project for waste recycling which was set up a few years ago by five women, Mary Ghibril, Marnette Sharfeh, Khadija Hannoud, Amal Bitar and Athena Ghassoub, for the purpose of encouraging local residents to care about the environment.  Women from the recycling project deplored the general lack of interest regarding the environment and noted that it will be difficult to carry on with the recycling project in view of its cost.  They added that the assistance of the local municipal council was limited to a decision taken prior to elections authorizing them the usage of the plot of land to recycle waste but failed to meet any other recycling cost thus forcing women to cover these themselves.
Source: L'Orient Le Jour 17 Octobre 2014

Following the agreement last month by the Cabinet and the Ministry of Economy and Trade to collect this year’s wheat harvest, the process has finally started following the release of three memos addressed by the Ministry of Economy to wheat farmers across Lebanon in which he informed of the date and venue for delivering the 2014 harvest of wheat and barley.  The joint committees entrusted with this task including representatives from the Ministries of Economy and Agriculture as well as LARI began receiving the harvest in all Mo7hafazats under the supervision of the Director General of the department of grains and sugar and according to the following calendar: South Lebanon as of 15 October, North Lebanon 18 October and Beqaa 20 October.  For their part, wheat farmers called on the Minister of Economy to speed up the process of paying them for the harvest as well settling the agreed financial compensation set by Cabinet at LBP 50,000 per one dunum.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Safir 23 October 2014

The pottery exhibition center of Bkerzay reserve opened last week with the participation of a large number of local and foreign artists but with the noticeable absence of the traditional Lebanese pottery.  The director of the centre, Marianne Geada3, noted that invitations were sent to Lebanese traditional potters but they did not participate maybe because, according to her, they are not used to collective work or for other reasons.  Geadda3 added that pottery making in Lebanon is on the way to disappearing hence the importance of this project in protecting popular memory as well as safeguarding a traditional skill that has been thriving in Lebanon for thousands of years. She also stressed that pottery has now become a true form of art and is no longer a simple craft.  She further added that the Centre provides private lessons to those wishing to learn pottery and it targets youth to encourage them to engage in this sector and not be limited to banking and finance.  Moreover, Geada3 said that the work of the Centre will not only rely on exhibitions but will extend to the carrying out of activities within the Baaqline forests where hiking routes have been opened in collaboration with the local forest authorities and for the purpose of strengthening eco-tourism.
Source: Al-Safir 20 October 2014

As Safir newspaper published last Saturday a report on silk production in Lebanon including an interview with Michel Leon, the last general director of the “silk bureau” which was closed some 15 years ago.  Leon noted that turning the page on silk production in Lebanon was a non recoverable loss as this sector did not put any burden on the treasury but rather secured economic income as well as social results especially at the level of income for rural families as well as traditional handicrafts.  Leon noted that the silk bureau was created back in 1956 and played a distinct role in agriculture, industry and development, stressing that it was the first independent institution in Lebanon.  Leon further noted that this sector created jobs for rural people and encouraged them not to migrate to the cities, highlighting that raising silkworms takes only one month and absorbs masked unemployment especially amongst women as well as those retired and with delicate health.  He added that silk production used to be quite prosperous in many areas notably Baalbek and Hermel and was an alternative to illicit agriculture especially that the mulberry tree can grow in many climates and on non irrigated lands.  The report concluded by noting that Leon had sent a memorandum to the Minister of Agriculture on 15/6/2000, shortly prior to the closure of the Silk Bureau, explaining the environmental and economic importance of this sector, though to no avail and the Bureau was unjustly closed.
Source: Al-Safir 18 October 2014

A group of five AUB women students won the fourth prize of the “next generation” category of the 4th International Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction in the MENA region.  The competition was held in Lebanon for the first time since its inception and seeks to showcase architectural projects which address technological, environmental, economic and cultural needs in contemporary buildings.  The group competed with 300 other candidates and included the following AUB women architecture students: Marlene Antaki, Christina Atiyeh, Mira Boumatar, Romi al-Sayyah7, and Yara Rah7meh.  The Lebanese group won USD 7,500 for their project which consisted of transforming leftovers into energy on a site located in Bushriyyeh area of Beirut.
Source: Al-Nahar 18 October 2014

The national UNESCO committee inaugurated last week in collaboration with the Mar Elias School Alumni and the environmental protection committee “the museum of maritime crafts – the Jamil Dunia centre for sustainable development” in the town of Mina in Tripoli.  The event was held under the auspices of the Minister of Culture, Raymond Araijeh.  The general secretary of the national UNESCO committee, Zahida Darweesh, noted that the creation of this museum seeks to preserve memory and develop maritime crafts.  She added that the museum will be a space for organizing workshops and awareness raising events targeting artisans, youth and students.  The president of the environmental protection committee, Amer Haddad, noted for his part that the museum will help the development of the local community as well as preserve heritage and will also strengthen the link between the town’s history and its sea.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 20 October 2014

The CEO of Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), Nabil Itani, noted that food exports constituted 13.7% of total industrial exports in 2013 and increased annually by more than 12% between 2008 and 2013.  Itani confirmed that these data provide a strong indicator for the importance of food industry in the Lebanese economy to which it contributed 3% of total GDP.  He added that this sector benefits from significant untapped opportunities and is ready to grow further.  Itani was speaking during the opening of the Lebanese pavilion at the international food fair, SIAL, organized in France between 13 and 29 October, where 18 Lebanese food industries are participating and is showcasing jams, spices, coffee, grains, pickles and canned food.  The president of the Syndicate of Food Industrialists, Munir Bsat, noted for his part that the participation of Lebanon in the upcoming Gulf Food exhibition, which will be held in Dubai in 2015, will be one of the largest in the history of the country as the Lebanese pavilion will cover some 640 square meters and will host more than 45 exhibitors from the Lebanese food industry.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal 22 October 2014

In his interview with the “Sohha wal Insann” magazine (issued by the Syndicate of Hospitals in Lebanon), Minister of Labor Sejaan Azzi expected the endorsement of a new labor law soon.  He added that the current labor law was assessed and compared with labor laws around the world whilst giving due consideration to human rights namely the right to rest, work and equality as per the provisions of the ILO.  Azzi added that all such considerations were adequately mainstreamed in the new draft text that was completed on August 4th, and which should be referred to Cabinet soon and then for discussion within the House before being endorsed as a new law.  Azzi also confirmed that the new NSSF regarding post-retirement health insurance coverage will soon see the light, revealing that there is an on-going political struggle within Parliament with regards to all similar social laws as each political bloc wishes to impose its project.
Source: Al-Diyar 21 October 2014

Following the last week declaration of the president of the Federation of Trade Unions of Tobacco farmers in Lebanon, Hassan Faqih, about the initiation of the process of purchasing last year’s tobacco by the Regie, the National Federation of Trade Unions of Workers – South Lebanon branch (NFTW), issued yesterday a statement addressed to tobacco farmers highlighting the continuous exploitation and manipulation by the Regie. The statement noted that the Regie tends to slash the value of the harvest in terms of overall weight during the weighing operation, through discarding one kilogram per bale. These accrued kilograms are then removed from the list during the price assessment stage under the guise of being damaged thus cutting the payment made to farmers which is already based on a low price set at LBP 12,000 per kilo.  The NFTW statement reiterated its demands to grant tenure of license ownership to tobacco growers and to include them in the NSSF, and ensure that their harvest is bought in full. Furthermore, the statement reiterated its previous demand for raising the price of the kilogram of tobacco to LBP 15,000, subsidizing the process of medicines and fertilizers and finally compensating tobacco farmers for losses in 2006 caused by Israeli war.

For access to the stamen, go to the following weblink: NFTW statement
Source: Al-Safir 22 October 2014