News

The Minister of Economy and Trade, Nicolas Nahhas, issued a memorandum (9/H.Sh) to wheat and barley farmers informing them of the conditions to be met in order to benefit from government subsidies. 

The memorandum includes the following:

1. Submission of completed form for wheat and/or barley farming.  The form is provided free of charge and should be submitted between 2/12/2013 and 31/1/2014 and should include the following requested documents:
   1. Copy of ID or civil register or family register (the latter should have been issued within a maximum of three month period)
   2. Real estate certificate covering the parcel to be planted with wheat and/or barley
   3. Statement of surface area that is not constructed and which is also issued within a period of three months maximum
   4. The registration number of the surface area that is not constructed (not included in points b or c) along with a map of the estate
   5. Agricultural lease for those farming land that they do not own
   6. A contract signed either by the notary general (for each planted area exceeding 75 dunum or for a total of 75 dunum of ranted and planted land without it being necessarily owned by the same landlord) or by the municipal head or the Mukhtar in case the village does not have a municipality (for planted areas below 65 dunums).
2. The application should be submitted during the official working hours at the following:
   1. The representation centre for the Ministry of Economy and Trade/General Directorate of Grains and Beet in Tell Amara/Ryak
   2. Office of Economy and Trade in Nabatieh (for the South Lebanon and Nabatieh Mohafazat)
   3. Office of Economy and Trade in Tripoli (for the North Lebanon Mohafazat)
3. The concerned person should submit his/her own application and not via and intermediary.
4. Each person should submit one comprehensive application.
5. Applications should be submitted within the set deadline and so as to allow the administration to undertake a proper assessment.
6. Farmers whose application is accepted by the administration and by the Diwan Al Mouhassaba will benefit from the subsidy.  The information in the application may not be changed after the deadline for submissions has elapsed.
7. Agricultural engineers and surveyors will undertake a field mapping of the planted areas and subsidies will only be given to the areas that has been checked and verified.
8. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
9. Persons providing false information will be liable to prosecution.

Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Mustaqbal 4 December 2013

Al Diyar newspaper published a report on Khan el Frenj located in the center of Saida and which was transformed into a small hostel for tourists and a space for exhibiting local products.  Al Hariri Foundation had started in 1992 working on repairing the space including reinforcing the infrastructure and the stone work.  Khan el Frenj is a stone construction with two entrances and two floors.  The ground floor includes 36 units which used to house the merchandise of French traders and provide stables for their horses.  The first floor includes 50 units formerly used as lodgings for foreign traders.  Six of these units have now been equipped to become a small hostel available at symbolic prices to tourists and so as to encourage tourism in the area.  The remainder units are now allocated to Lebanese crafts producers to encourage young artists as well as Anamiluna Foundation which works to support women through training in embroidery and knitting.  One of the units was given to the Ministry of Social Affairs to exhibit traditional Lebanese crafts and another is used by the Ministry of Tourism to help tourist and provide them with information about the history of Khan el Frenj.
Source: Al-Diyar 4 December 2013

Najdeh Association launched its new campaign on sexual harassment yesterday and shared, for the occasion, its documentary on the subject as well as the results of a study undertaken by Dr. Aziza Khalidi, member if the Najdeh Board, on sexual harassment in Borj el Barajneh. The study covered a sample of 116 families residing in Borj el Barajneh and showed that most women and girls are subjected to sexual harassment by family members which further intimidate them from speaking out.  The study also showed that 12% of victims of sexual harassment are children and have experienced sexual harassment in small alleys in the camp.  Witnesses also confirm that 14.2% of incidence of sexual harassment was seen in small alleys and note that the architectural structure of the camp actually compounds and facilitates occurrence of sexual harassment.  In a related vein, one of the researchers interviewed in the documentary draws a correlation between increased poverty, poor social, economic and security conditions and high population density which facilitate and encourage sexual harassment.
Source: Al-Akhbar 4 December 2013

Women in Front launched its new initiative entitled strengthening women’s role in municipalities and which seeks to build the capacities of Lebanese women candidates for municipal elections and prepare them for the upcoming electoral round through building their skills and capacities in undertaking assessments of needs of their localities and identifying possible solutions.  The launch of this new project which is implemented with funding from the MEPI initiative, took place during a press conference that was organised yesterday in Beirut under the auspices of the Minister of Interior and Municipalities.
The coordinator of the project, Joelle Abu Farhat Rizkallah, reiterated in her key note address the fact that women’s participation at municipal level does not exceed 4.8% and thus indicates the need for encouraging women to participate in political life.  The MEPI coordinator in Lebanon, Erik Ryan noted that this project is a model of women candidates that Lebanon needs as they will have the chance to be exposed to mechanisms and ways of working in local elections and will become familiarized with the role of the municipal council as well as government.  He added that strengthening women’s role in politics, through this project, is likely to bring in a new dimension to politics in Lebanon.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 3 December 2013

The new Board of Directors of the Association of Keserouan Industrialists now includes Ms. Carol Milan as vice-chair and Ms. Nicole Abdallah as secretary.  The Board elections were held yesterday and were presided by Nicoles Abi Nasr, the head of the Industrialists Gathering, and included an evaluation of the performance of the former board and its achievements.  Abi Nasr invited industrialists in the region to prepare a white paper for discussion with the Minister of the Industry, Freij Sabonijian, as well as with the President of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) Nehme Efram, during their upcoming meeting planned for December 11th.
Source: Al-Diyar 3 December 2013

The Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Louis La7ood, promised that 2014 will witness the marketing of Lebanese olive oil across the world in coordination with the Lebanese diaspora.  This announcement was made as Mr. Hobeika was heading the Lebanese delegation to the meeting of the general assembly of the international council for olive oil and which was recently held in Madrid. La7ood presented the plan of his Ministry for marketing Lebanese olive oil and shared details about the Ministry’s planned projects in this area.

Within the same vein, La7ood visited the Spanish Minuistry of Agriculture last Friday to discuss possible collaboration between Lebanon and Spain. The two parties agreed to set up a joint Agriculture committee from the two countries to operationalise cooperation in the field of agricultural extension as well as to increase wine exports from Lebanon to Spain.  To be noted that during the Lebanese senor official’s visit to Spain, a meeting was organised and brought together Lebanese winemaker and Spanish buyers.

Source: Al-Diyar 30 November 2013

Azm wa Saadeh association for Human Development organized in collaboration with the International Arab Academy for Training, the “Development Ambassador” and the Be Clever Centre; a training workshop entitled “the power of will and attracting employment opportunities”.  The training was facilitated by international trainer Dr. Mohammed Maymoun who presented mechanisms for strengthening will and attraction, whilst clarifying the difference between negative and positive awareness and ways for stimulation towards achieving goals.  The training was concluded with a speech by the director of Azm human development center, who outlined the strategy of the centre, which seeks to run internationally certified training workshops, in order to strengthen sustainable human development in Lebanon and in the Arab world

Source: Al-Nahar 30 November 2013

The Artisan du Liban launched a joint social and economic solidarity project in its Tripoli centre in collaboration with Al Azm wal Saadeh and Safadi workshops, First Step  association (Fista) for special education, and Oasis of Joy association.  The project aims to facilitate marketing and provide income generating employment opportunities to artisans seeking to improve their living conditions.  The project will aim to market various craft products of workshops operated by partner social and humanitarian organisations in the North.  Some 240 products from various producers will benefit from this initiative which will try and overcome competition in favor of complementarity and diversity.

The responsible of the department consultancy and development at the Artisan du Liban, Rola Haidar noted that this project is not a temporary exhibition but a permanent venue for marketing products of partner workshops so that customers can have access to better quality products which have a social and cultural value.

Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Safir 30 November 2013

The National Quality Day was launched yesterday during an event organised by the Quality Programme in the Ministry of Economy and Trade (MoET) and which is funded by the European Union.  The event was held at the Adnan Kassar building for Arab Economy and coincided with the International Quality Day.  Minister of Economy and Trade Nicolas Nahhas announced the selection of 30 food industries in Lebanon as recipients of technical; support and counseling from the programme’s expert and so as to enable them to receive the international ISO 22000 and ISO 22005 certificates.
The director of the quality programme at the MoET, Ali Berro, highlighted in his speech the main achievements of the programme namely supporting 14 official laboratories and providing them with modern lab equipments as well as with training and counseling.  From these, 11 were able to receive international certificates from European bodies.  In addition, 50 industries and companies were provided with training and counseling to enable them to adopt and implement quality control systems.  Of these, 40 companies and factories were able to receive the management system certification ISO 9001 as well as the certificate of food safety ISO 22000.
The Head of the Economic Committees Adnan Kassar indicated for his part that commitment to international standards allows a better control of the market and contributes to increasing products competitiveness and will therefore facilitate trade.  He added that securing the ISO is very important to Lebanese industries as it ensures credibility and facilitates external markets.
The heads of operation at the European Union Delegation in Lebanon, Diego Escalona Paturel, noted that the EU will provide aid in 2014 and 2015 towards new food safety technology in addition to supporting the set up of a monitoring body which will promote possibilities of exporting food products.  This support will be through the quality programme at the MoET with the help of experts dispatched by the European Union.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Safir 29 November 2013

Abaad and its partners launched yesterday their contribution to the 16-day world campaign to combat violence against women and girls.  The campaign is entitled “Saying God help her will not help her” and seeks to mobilize people to take action against violence.  According to the director of Abaad, Ghida Anani, violence against women is a multi layered issues which requires personal initiatives to challenge and prevent violence against women.
The campaign includes three TV spots, showing women and men witnessing domestic violence in their immediate environment but feeling helpless and simply saying “God help her”, whilst they continue their life as usual.  The campaign also includes a radio advert, advertising on billboards all over the country, in addition to small text messages and various training and awareness activities, all to be concluded on December 18th.
Source: Al-Nahar 29 November 2013