News

The Lebanon Central Bank launched at its headquartyers in Hamra last week the “Green Rooftops project” in collaboration with CEDRO-UNDP.  Central Bank issued a statement saying that this pilot initiative was funded by Central Bank and the UNDP which share is actually originated from the Spanish government and channeled via the Lebanon Recovery Fund.  The statement added that a local company designed the green rooftop with the help of international experts.  The rooftop surface total area is 834 square meters and was planted with vegetation that is both aesthetic and creates an isolation which helps decrease energy consumption by 10%,
The governor of the Lebanon Central Bank, Riad Salameh, noted that the Central Bank is seeking to introduce a financing programme which will develop the environmental sector in Lebanon using an economic efficiency approach as this sector can help to create new employment opportunities especially since it represents 2-3% of the total GNP.  Salameh added that this sector will have a direct impact on all other economic sectors notably tourism.  Salameh further added that Lebanon needs to import USD 6 billion worth of energy per year to cover local demand and thus, this project can save up to 10 to 20% of demand, will improve the balance of payments considerably, will also contribute to improving the environment and to reducing health expenditures.

Source: Al-Diyar 3 Juy 2014

The Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil Peace (LFPCP), Diakonia and the Tyre municipality organized a training workshop entitled “women’s participation in local decision making”.  The event was held at the King’s Historical Castle in the city of Tyre.  The workshop extended over 2 days with the participation of 30 women active in civil society.  The programme began by a presentation of the workshop programme by the coordinator Rabih Kays who insisted on the importance of reaching practical and local recommendation which would focus on changing people’s behavior in their daily life and especially in terms of supporting civil peace.  The vice-president of the Tyre municipality, Salah Sabraoui, noted that the municipal council supports all activities that strengthen women’s role as this will have a positive repercussion on society at large.
Source: Al-Nahar 3 July 2014
 

Byblos Bank recently signed its third agreement with the European Investment Bank according to which Byblos Bank will allocate a total of EU 45 million as loan to small and medium businesses.  Byblos Bank will be providing these businesses with credit facilities at competitive (fixed and otherwise) interest rates over extended periods of time reaching up to 12 years.  Byblos Bank will also encourage women’s entrepreneurship and environmentally friendly initiatives especially in productive sectors such as industry, services, health, energy, communication, ICT, higher education as well as industries based on the knowledge economy.
The vice director and responsible of commercial banking services at the Bank Byblos Group, Fadi Nassar, noted that small and medium enterprises are a driving force that encourages investment and international trade amongst the private sector and is a augur for a more prosperous future for the youth.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 3 July 2014

The Minister if Economy and Trade, Alain Hakim, had a discussion yesterday with a delegation representing the food industry syndicate and presided by Munir Bsat.  The discussion covered the situation of the food industry and the challenges it is facing.  Bsat declared at the end of the meeting that the discussion focused on 4 key points:

1)      The collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Trade within the framework of the quality programme (QUALEB) which provides technical support to factories so that they acquire the ISO certification and which currently benefits 30 factories.  The delegation requested a larger outreach for this programme with the support of the EU so that it covers a larger chunk of the sector.

2)      Collaboration with the Ministry in the design of the Lebanon pavilion at the Milano 2015 food exhibition.

3)      Requesting the Ministry’s support towards participation in other exhibitions within and outside Lebanon.

4)      Protecting intellectual property and trademarks of Lebanese factories and modernizing the work of the directorate of intellectual property.

Bsat also noted that the meeting discussed the issue of consumers’ protection and relations with departments and directorates within the Ministry.  Both parties agreed to prepare a working paper addressing all issues of concern.

(Source: Addiyar 2 July 2014)

 

The new law to protect family members from family violence is making its way to implementation.  Yesterday, a first verdict was rendered by the criminal judge in Baabda, Ali Hussein Ftuni, who sentenced Tamara Harissi’s husband with 9 months of imprisonment in addition to a penalty of LBP 20 million in favor of the plaintiff and in compensation for damages incurred.

Tamara Harissi had come to the police station in Ouzai covered in blood following an attack by her husband and deposited a complaint against her husband.  She also complained against him for an attempted murder by her and requesting compensation for damages.

On another related vein, the police arrested yesterday M.A. (born in 1963) from Ras El Nabeh, following a complaint lodged by his wife saying that he allegedly beat hear and threatened her with a weapon.  However, the wife retracted after her husband was arrested.  The latter remains under arrest for possession of illegal arms.

Similarly, the General Directorate of the Internal Social Security announced the arrest of Z.A. (born in 1990), who confessed to killing his older sister S.A (born in 1982- of Lebanese nationality), and following the discovery of the body of the young woman.  After initiating immediate investigation, the intelligence branch arrested the brother of Z.A who first said that he killed his sister by mistake but later confessed to having killed her after seeing a text message on her phone which may have suggested that she did something to “sully her honor”.

(Source: Al- Akhbar and Annahar 2 July  and Al- Akhbar and Assafir 1 July 2014)

The President of Union of Municipalities of Central and Coastal Qayta'a, Ahmad el Mir, declared on behalf of the municipalities and federation of municipalities in Akkar, as well as MPs Mouin al-Merhebi  and Nidal Tohmeh, and several local leaders, the launch of the campaign “justice for the Mohafaza of Akkar”.  The aim of the campaign is to inform the public on the marginalization of Akkar by this cabinet and its predecessors especially following decision number 99 and  Decree number 13068, issued by the Lebanese government and  which allocated to Akkar only USD 7 million out of a total of USD 200 million earmarked for development projects across Lebanon.

Al Mir called for a sit-in by the Municipality in Halba next Saturday July 5th in addition to a sit-in by the Serail in Beirut which date will be decided later.  Those present in the meeting also threatened with escalating their actions reaching  civil disobedience.  In addition, a committee of lawyers was set up to undertake a legal study of the said budgetary allocation especially that MPs had in the past protested the way in which development budget was distributed.

Within the same vein, MPs Merhebi and Daher and the presidents of federations of municipalities drafted a letter to MP Tammam Salam informing him of the objection regarding the decision and asking him to revert it. Furthermore, the municipalities, municipal federations and CSOs observed last Sunday a sit in at the municipal hall in Halba as a first step in their mobilization against this decision.  The President of Union of Municipalities of Qayta'a, Abdul Ilah Zakaria, asked the Cabinet whether Akkar and its resident are on the map of Lebanon and called for justice. He also declared that Akkar will no longer accept being marginalized; stressing that the financial allocations must be made according to population size and surface area.  Finally, he insisted that the allocation for Akkar should represent at least 13% of the total earmarked funds.
(Source: Al – Akhbar, Addiyar 1 July 2014, Assafir 30 June, Assafir- Nahar, Al Mustaqbal 28 June 2014)

YWCA organized last week and for the second consecutive year in its premises in Ain el Mreisseh a celebration for the graduates of its health care training courses which extended over three months and which included a practicum period at the Khoury Hospital, at the AUB-MC and the Moadieh Evangelical Center.  The training in health care will allow successful graduates to work in hospitals and dispensaries as well as provide care to elderly and infants.  During the celebration, the president of the training committee Edma Farah highlighted the objectives of the YWCA notably the empowerment of women and girls through developing their economic and sustainability skills.  She also thanked that national federation of YWCA in Beirut and the Beirut municipality for their financial support towards that training programme.
(Source: Annahar July 1, 2014)
 

The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, honored Lebanese barrister Elizabeth Sioufi, the director of the Human Rights Institute at the Beirut Bar Association, in recognition of her effective role in challenging human trafficking during 2014 and for her role in raising awareness on this issue.  The event took place at the US State Department on Friday June 20th.  According to l’Orient le Jour, Sioufi was instrumental in calling for the adoption of the first law on trafficking in human I n 2012 in Lebanon and played an important role in developing a national strategy to counter this trend in Lebanon. Siufi expressed her proud with this recognition which will further encourage continuing her journey and hoping that human rights of every citizen will prevail across the world.
(Source: L’Orient le Jour 30 June 2014)

 

The Lebanon's Tobacco Regie inaugurated last week its new administrative and vocational training centre located in its headquarters in Hadath.  The event was held under the auspices of the Minister of Finance, Ali Hassan Khalil, who noted that public administration has the capacity to transform current trends in public service, set sound basis for the relation between citizens and the administration and between the administration and political powers.  He added that this event is an achievement as it goes beyond the framework of developing one single administration and contributes to renewing trust in the public sector, its administration and institutions.  The Minister confirmed that if this initiative if properly accompanied, it is able to produce qualified cadres who will ensure that the state is the guardian of all production administrations.  Khalil added that any new orientation concerning tobacco cultivation should be accompanied with a clear strategic vision of how the state can protect farmers and the adoption of clear and sustainable economic alternatives.
The president of the board of directors of the Lebanon's Tobacco Regie, Nassif Seklaoui, noted that opening this administrative and vocational training centre is like setting the cornerstone for ensuring quality through grounding a culture of continuous learning and creating a favorable environment for civil servants.  Seklaoui noted that the income of this sector has grown and reached USD 1.7 billion over the last three years, 78% of which are net profits compared to 42% in 1975.  He also noted that the government revenues from this sector increased from USD 93 million in 1994 to USD 548 million in 2013 with an average annual increase of 10%.
(Source: Addiyar and Annahar 30 June 2014)
 

The UAE Embassy, BankMed and Imkan financial institution signed a MOU to support small and medium enterprises for youth and women and Lebanon.  According to this MoU, Imkan will be providing loans ranging between LBP 500000 and 15 million over a three years period. BankMed’s CEO, President and general director of Imkan, Mohammed Ali Beyhum, emphasized the concern of the Bank and the Institution to support economically active individuals of limited income as this MoU will provide them with the opportunity to receive small loans services which are otherwise not available in the banking sector. The UAE Embassy attaché, Hamad Mohammad al Junaibi, noted that launching this initiative is part of the development plan of the Al Khalifa Humanitarian Organisations which seeks to help communities develop through small and medium projects for youth and women especially amidst the rampant unemployment and limited job opportunities.  
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar 27 June 2014