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The Central Bank organised last week a workshop entitled “Capitalization of merging enterprises in the knowledge economy” following the newly issued decree 331 related to startup businesses.  The Chair of Central Bank, Riad Salameh, noted that the knowledge economy is becoming a key sector for the future as it contributes to the creation of new companies and consequently of new work opportunities in Lebanon.  It also contributes to improving competitiveness which is critical in overcoming negative performance of the economy especially its high debt ratio and large public deficit.  Salameh also noted that the Central Bank will be covering 75% of the investment by private banks in investment funds or in companies active in the knowledge economy.
The Minister of State, Marwan Kheireddine, noted for his part that decree 331 will actively contribute to developing and supporting start up as well as small and medium companies which are involved in the knowledge economy through providing capital funds so that they can increase and improve their production.  He also stressed that the growth of these companies will contribute to strengthening the money market.  The Minister of Communication, Nicolas Sa7hnawi, pointed out to a number of new digital initiatives, namely Beirut Angels which provided capital to three startup companies namely it3arraf, eTobb and Presella and an ICT incubator that Altcity will be launching in the first quarter of 2014.
The head of the Association of Banks in Lebanon, Francois Bassil, clarified in his address that decree 331 will allow banks and financial institutions to invest up to 3% of its own funds in startup companies and in business incubators in the knowledge economy sector.  He noted that the aim of the Central Bank is to promote the creation of new and promising start up companies so that they become SAL, which will contribute to increasing national wealth and providing job opportunities as well as strengthening the financial market.
Source: http://newspaper.annahar.com/article/93438-%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%85%D9%88%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A9">Al-Nahar, Al-Safir 23 December 2013

Al Mustaqbal newspaper published a report about tobacco farmers of Batroon, who have delivered their harvest for this season amidst a general atmosphere of resentment as the prices do not cover the production costs having remained unchanged since the mid nineties thus leaving Batroon tobacco growers wondering whether keep growing tobacco given its long history in this area or simply shift to other cultures.
The report notes that during the past week, tobacco growers in Batroon were busy packaging their harvest and shipping it to the Regie in Besbeena – Batroun, where experts came in to check the merchandise and to determine prices.  However, these prices were once more disappointing this year as farmers received 11,000 per kilogram at the time when the production cost are much higher.
The report notes that according to a rapid statistics carried out in Batroon, there is a significant decline in the total area planted with tobacco.  Villages which used to depend on this culture for 90% of their livelihoods have totally disappeared because of poor financial yield.  According to the tobacco growers, this type of farming is becoming more of a liability for farmers who complain about the rising costs of seedlings, of labour pesticides, packaging and transportation.  Milad Shaheene, a tobacco grower since 1995, noted that the price received for each kilo of tobacco harvested has not changed for many years whilst the costs of inputs and production have all increased noting that he is not able to cover the production cost of the 500 kilograms of tobacco that he has produced.
The report relayed a strong request from the tobacco farmers to Ministry of Finance as well as the “Regie” requesting that they reconsider the set prices and to assure the survival of tobacco growing rather than condemn it to extinction.  They also asked the Ministry of Agriculture to provide support to tobacco growers in all parts of Lebanon.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 23 December 2013

Since women’s political participation is an entry point to challenge social stereotypes and as well as obstacles which bock women from reaching decision making positions, the women sector in the Future Movement organised last week in Beirut a training workshop on empowering women in political participation.  During the event, which was organised within a broader strategic framework, the coordinator of the women sector, Afifa al Sayyed, highlighted the realities of women’s political participation in political life in Lebanon and the problematic related to the weakness of that participation.  She noted that the key obstacles facing women are the predominance of the confessional and family based political system, the confessional electoral laws as well as the overall patriarchal culture which still undermine their role and image.  She also noted that women’s willingness to work and to seek education has produced a change at the individual level.  However, she added, this change was not accompanied by a change at the level of overall social values thus maintaining women’s participation in public and political life limited and poorly reflecting women’s capacities.  She finally disclosed that the women sector in the Future Movement is currently working on a comprehensive plan to support women in political life including a specific sub-plan to improve women’s active participation in the movement itself through providing empowerment support, training and raising-awareness.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 23 December 2013

The ABC mall in Ashrafieh organsed a Christmas Bazaar called "Kan ya ma kan" (i.e. The good old days) in which ten organisations participated and exhibited food, handcrafts and accessories produced rural women, mothers and widows.  Revenues from sales will be used by each of the participating organisations.  The exhibition takes the form of small wooden houses set up for free within the mall.  These will be open to visitors until January 2nd 2014.  Amongst these is a stand called Lebanese Village which showcases products from “Atayeb el Rif” cooperative.  The President of the Atayeb, May Traboulsi, noted that the project started with funding from the USAID and was implemented by the YMCA but is now, according to her, autonomous, self sustaining and is exporting.  She added that the main aim is to find work opportunities to rural women and help them stay in their villages. For its part, “Caring for the Child At Home”(check the name), an association which helps children who lost their fathers through providing education and health care, exhibited for sale various pastries and food stuff produced by mothers.  Other organisations also took part in this bazaar namely associations that work wit children with cancer such as Tofoula, Basma and Children Cancer Center.
Source: Al-Nahar 20 December 2013

The Minister of Industry, Frej Sabounjian, referred to monthly, quarterly and yearly exports data which continuously indicate that food processed products are first on the list of Lebanese exports.  Sabounjian also noted that the Lebanese cuisine and wine have successfully reached international markets thus the importance of securing sustainability and high quality through land reclamation in Lebanon as well as reaching out to water and soil rich neighboring Arab countries so as to scale up investments.  Sabounjian noted that strengthening production in these countries is important for building a new economy in the region.  Sabounjian added that his Ministry is now working towards subsidizing the costs of participation of Lebanese exporters in international fairs.  Efforts are also placed towards developing a new project entitled "Beirut, the capital of taste" in order to support the Lebanese industry and the marketing of its products.  
Sabounjian’s declarations came during a luncheon organised by food industrialists.  The event was organised in celebration of the former president of the Syndicate of Food Industries, Georges Nasraoui, which was attended by the Minister of Tourism, Fadi Abboud and the Director General of the Ministry of Economy and Trade, Fouad Fleifel as well as other key figures.
The new president of the Syndicate, Munir Bsat, gave a key note address and spoke of the current realities of the food industries highlighting the continuous growth in production and exports despite difficulties and challenges faced.  He called on the members of the Syndicate to support it and to participate actively in the implementation of its new plan.  The former president, Nasraoui, encouraged the audience to participate in external exhibitions and to open up to export.  He also stressed the important role played by the syndicate to lobby politicians and decision makers to take initiatives which would support the local industry and encourage the adoption of ISO and HACCP standards so as to improve the quality of production.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar 20 December 2013

Dar an Nahar and Dar al Amal organised yesterday within the framework of the Aran Book Fair in Biel a seminar around their new book entitled entitled: "Sayings by women prisoners in stories and vignettes.  The seminar was moderated by Maguy Aoun and was attended by MP Ghassan Mokhayber, Colonel Ghassan Maaloof Chief of Roumieh Prison, lawyer Fahmi Karami and the president of Dar al Amal, Habib Hatem. The book is a compilation of quotes and stories by a number of women residing in three Lebanese prisons, namely Tripoli, Zahleh and Baabda, where Dar al Amal engages in legal, psychological and other services.  The book materialised as an idea from Dar al Amal and was then adopted by the Dar Al Nahar publishing house.  Income from sales will be used to support women prisoners.
MP Ghassan Mokhayber highlighted in his intervention the situation of prisons.  He referred to the report which he produced within the framework of drafting the national human rights strategy and in which prisons were classified into three categories, namely as bad, very bad or inhumane.  He added that in theory prisons are supposed to be spaces for accessing justice and rehabilitation.  Colonel Maaloof noted for his part that the current situation of prisons is poor and efforts should be extended to improve them and to help the ISF in doing so, highlighting the role of NGOs and other supporting organisations.  He indicated that criticism needs to be constructive so as to improve the situation and not cause harm to those in charge of these prisons.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 19 December 2013

The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) launched in collaboration with the UNFPA a new study entitled “Women’s Rights in the Lebanese Legislations: Amended texts from 2000 – 2013”.  The launch took place yesterday at the NCLW training centre in Hazmieh.
The General Secretary of the NCLW, lawyer Fady Karam, noted in his speech that this study was implemented with financial support from the UNFPA and consists of a detailed compilation of laws and decrees related to women’s rights in Lebanon and reflect the current state of the art of Lebanese legislation.  This study, according to Karam, will allow a rigorous monitoring of implementation of these laws, adding that the study covers all key axis related to women’s demands for rights including the right to nationality, political participation, and protection from violence as well as other key issues.
Karam noted that the NCLW had completed earlier a study entitled “indicators of women’s situation” which provides a tool for completed the CEDAW implementation reports.  At this stage, and also according to Karam, the NCLW is preparing another study with the help of Judge Arlette Tabet and Judge Fawzi Khamis on the issue of early marriage.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 19 December 2013

The Blessing Foundation organised on November 30th in collaboration with the Women Empowerment Initiative (WE) of the BLC bank the second edition of its annual workshop on mentoring and communication with the participation of 60 women entrepreneurs.  The event took place within the framework of the mentoring programme implemented by the organization with funding from the US organisation Vital Voices which brings together entrepreneurs from all parts of the world and introduces them to business mentors listed in Fortune and which includes a rundown of the best US Fortune 500 companies.  The programme enabled this year the participation of pioneer women from various industrial sectors such as design, finance, law, pharmacy and fashion.
The Executive Director of the Blessing Foundation, Ms, Rima Kuteish el Husseini, highlighted in her speech the importance of competent business women in mentoring emerging women entrepreneurs in Lebanon.  She added that the concept of mentoring and counseling needs to flourish in Lebanon and so as to attract more women into the business community.  For her part, Nancy Stephan, from the US embassy gave a presentation on communication and networking, whilst the president of the Strategic Development and Financial Management department at the BLC bank, Tania Moussallem, introduced the Women Empowerment Initiative and the importance of creating opportunities for small and medium enterprises in order to empower women socially and economically.
The workshop has contributed to the starting up and to the development of new relations between trainees and mentors.  After a brief exchange session, women trainees chose their preferred mentors with whom they carry out the Vital Voices Mentoring Walk which stands as the backbone of the annual Blessing Foundation’s mentoring and counseling programme.
Source: Al-Nahar 18 December 2013

Within the framework of the 2013 international business entrepreneurship, and in line with the mission of Endeavour aiming to develop business entrepreneurship among younger generation, Endeavour organised during last month at AUB, two seminars the first on 18 and the second on 28 November.  The aim of these 2 events was to raise the awareness and expand the horizons of students interested in business entrepreneurship and assist them in understanding the business and economy system of Lebanon.
The seminars kicked off with lectures by four business entrepreneurs from Endeavour and who are highly influential in Lebanon namely Elie Habib, the founder of Anghami music app for smart phones, Brahms Chouity, the founder of At7addak.com the Arab World's biggest gaming website, Jad Khour the founder of Printworks, and Marc Dfouni the Co-founder of Eastline Marketing for e-commerce.  Speakers introduced their businesses and shared their journey in developing their enterprise until it became successful.
This was followed by a discussion session, during which entrepreneurs shared their experiences with students highlighting their challenges as well as available solutions and advanced technology, then followed by a cocktail party during which students had a chance to have some side discussions with entrepreneurs and seek their advice and guidance.
On this occasion, the administration director of Endeavour in Lebanon Tarek Saadi reiterated the commitment of Endeavour to strengthening relation with universities and so as to link individuals with talents and skills and facilitate knowledge exchange.  He added that similar activities will be organised in the future in collaboration with the other Lebanese universities.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 18 December 2013

The Federation of Municipalities of Jabal Amel celebrated yesterday the graduation of 112 women who completed the literacy training course organised by the Federation in collaboration with Noor Association.  The event was organised in Majdel Selem and was attended by women graduates, MP Ali Fayyad, the President of the Federation, Ali Zein, heads of municipal councils in the area and key local figures.
To be noted that the literacy programme was launched by the Federation in collaboration with Noor in 2011 and aims at teaching reading and writing to people of rural communities regardless of age.  Thus far, some 16 workshops were completed benefiting 260 women and men over a period of three years.
Source: Al-Safir 18 December 2013