Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2015 i Lebanon Opportunities

BUSINESSNEWS.COM.lb E-STOCK MARKET CLEARED FOR LICENSING The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) is taking the necessary measures to license an electronic stock market, according to the Central Bank (BDL). “The main purpose of this market will be to provide liquidity to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and find the right exit for emerging companies, if these companies would like to be sold to the public,” said Riad Salameh, Governor of the BDL. “We look also to reducing the private sector debt, which may free funds for investment and create job opportunities,” said Salameh. “This market will allow e-trading in stocks, currencies, goods, and securities with the participation of banks, financial institutions, and brokerage companies,” said Salameh. “Settlements and clearance issues will be supervised by Midclear,” he said. Midclear is the custodian…

Links: Click this article’s entry in ‘Table of Contents’ on our website The impact of Jordan’s closing of its borders with Syria and Saudi Arabia has caused disruption of overland exports to the Gulf. Industrialists and farmers have declared a state of economic emergency, calling on the Government to find alternatives to land routes. Among the proposed options is the use of ships that transport container trucks to nearby ports, known as roll-on-rolloffs (RO-RO), from where they may continue their journey overland. ECONOMIC EMERGENCY When Jordan banned shipments through the Nasib cross border with Syria, it hindered local industrial and agricultural exports to the Gulf. The Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) has called on the Government to find alternatives and to create a new shipping route to the targeted countries,…

Links: Click this article’s entry in ‘Table of Contents’ on our website Companies are growing locally and abroad, setting expansion plans and penetrating new markets. This is creating demand for specific managerial jobs mainly for business development managers, export managers, financial managers and human resources managers. Receptionists, waiters, sales personnel, accountants, and several other junior jobs show a higher demand in volume, with sales topping the list. A survey that involved several local companies was conducted by InfoPro Research and highlighted the jobs most in demand. MANAGERIAL JOBS As local industry becomes more technologically sophisticated and enters new international markets, it has become essential for companies to recruit export managers and business development managers. Among them are large employers like Indevco Group, Malia Group, and Daher Foods. “Companies cannot put…

DH8001 Gyro Series 3.5-channel radio control, ten minute maximum flight time, 25-meter maximum control Gizmo $55 DJI Inspire 1 Auto take-off and landing, 18 minute maximum flight time, 4K camera, Sony EXMOR 1/2.3”, Intelligent Flight Battery, Vision Positioning technology allows indoor flying without GPS, using a second remote controller and flying with a friend, allows one person to pilot the flight path, while the other takes pictures Hobbymax $3,500 DJI Phantom V2 Quadrotor, four channels, Multiple Autopilot Control Mode, 2-axle Gimbal Support, precision flight and stable hovering, 25-minute flight time and smart battery, auto return-to-home and landing Big Boyz Toyz $800 EXPLORER 4 XAIS Quadcopter, sixaxis radio control, seven modes of operation, integrated camera, eightminute flight Gizmo $99 PARROT AR Drone 2.0 1GHz 32-bit ARM Cortex A8 processor, improvement in…

• PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT AND FOOD SAFETY HAVE IMPROVED • THE FLOW OF SYRIAN REFUGEES WEIGHED HEAVILY ON EDUCATION • STIMULATING JOB CREATION AND SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENT ARE NECESSARY The EU announced progress in implementing the EU-Lebanon European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan, according to a report published by the European Commission. The ENP was developed in 2004, with the objective of avoiding the emergence of dividing lines between the enlarged EU and its neighbors and instead strengthening the prosperity, stability and security of all. It is based on the values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. TRADE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES The report noted the signing of the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro Mediterranean preferential rules of origin in October 2014 and the start of ratification. Customs authorities…

Links: Click this article’s entry in ‘Table of Contents’ on our website AN EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY FOR HOBBYISTS Drones are the highly evolved descendants of the radio controlled (RC) helicopters and model planes that hobbyists have been flying for decades. According to Alain Lahham, General Manager of Hobbymax, a local remote toy store and agent for Tamiya cars, RC planes were in vogue during the 1960s. But they were within the reach of a selective clientele. “For the past two years, the hobby has been evolving. More people are interested in flying drones,” he said. The rise of smartphones, which brought a lot of important components, such as magnetometers, cameras, accelerometers, radios, GPS modules, and processors, has accentuated the need for a modern drone. According to Peter Sermanian, Store Manager of…

Cedralys Al Salam School Street, Achrafieh Tel: (03) 386.979, Fax: (01) 201.974 info@beirut-art-fair.com www.beirut-art-fair.com Hospitality Services Borghol Bldg, 1st & 2nd Floor, Main Road, Dekwaneh Tel: (01) 480.081 Fax: (01) 482.876 info@hospitalityservices.com.lb www.hospitalityservices.com.lb IFP Group IFP Group Building, 56th St., Hazmieh Tel: (05) 959.111 Fax: (05) 959.888 info@ifpexpo.com www.ifpexpo.com Forum De Beyrouth Charles Helou Avenue, Medawar, Beirut Tel: (01) 584.584 Fax: (01) 560.184 admin@forum.ws www.forum.ws Promofair Media Center II, 5th Floor, Accaoui, Beirut Tel: (01) 561.600/1/2/3/4 Fax: (01) 561.605 info@promofair.com.lb www.promofair.com.lb Promoteam Freiha Bldg, 9th Floor, 140 Mar Mitr St., Ashrafieh Tel: (01) 339.050 Fax: (01) 339.060 sm@promoteam-ltd.com www.promoteam-ltd.com…

BUSINESSNEWS.COM.lb 40,000 WINE BOTTLES TO CHINA Chateaux Ksara and Kefraya will export 40,000 bottles of wine to China. In its first order to Beijing and Jilin, Ksara exported 12,000 bottles. Elie Maamari, Export Manager at Chateaux Ksara, said: “There is great potential in the Chinese market, as it has the largest population.” The Chinese consumption of wine is nine liters per capita, compared to two liters locally, per year. “There is good demand for wine in China,” said Maamari. Chateaux Kefraya aims to export 24,000 bottles to China in the coming months. Emile Majdalani, Commercial Director of Chateaux Kefraya, said: “We are communicating with several importers to penetrate this market.” He said that they have great expectations from the purchasing power of the Chinese. According to Maamari, red wine is…

BUSINESSNEWS.COM.lb SHARP INCREASE IN INDUSTRIAL LICENSES Industrial permits issued by the Ministry of Industry (MoI) increased by 40 percent to 578 licenses last year, compared to 415 licenses in 2013. Ziad Bekdache, Vice President of the Association of Industrialists, said: “Most of the newly licensed factories are in existence and have finalized the necessary documents to become legitimate.” The MoI had given them a grace period to regularize their status. The number of licenses provided for the establishment of new factories is 98, representing around 17 percent of the total number of licenses issued. Establishment licenses that are given when the owner begins developing the factory, represented the highest percentage (43 percent). Investment licenses, which are given when they start operating, represented around 14 percent, and investment and establishment licenses…

Links: Click this article’s entry in ‘Table of Contents’ on our website Inflation is declining, although the economy has been slightly recovering since last year, translated in the improvement of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and benefits of lower oil prices. Inflation has reached its lowest level in a decade, according to the ‘Lebanon Economic Monitor’ report published by the World Bank in April. Inflation decreased from 2.7 percent in 2013 to 1.9 percent in 2014. Similarly, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that inflation reached 1.9 percent in 2014, down from 4.8 percent in 2013, in its April ‘World Economic Outlook’ report. “Inflation was lower than usual last year, said Wissam Harake, Economist at the World Bank-Lebanon. “This decline is driven by a continued negative output gap, since the…

Links: Click this article’s entry in ‘Table of Contents’ on our website As the banking sector has expanded into international markets, corporate governance has taken on a deeper meaning. As banking gets ever more sophisticated and high-tech, improving corporate governance becomes necessary to ensure transparency and better service to customers. “Developing a reliable corporate governance system inside banks is essential to maintain growth and sustainability,” said Farid Lahoud, Group Corporate Secretary at Bank Audi. Complying with international standards helps banks to gain the trust of the markets they are penetrating, their own clients and the regulators’. “Any bank that has a corporate governance crisis could generate a problem for the whole economy, which could reflect negatively on the soundness and reputation of the country’s financial system,” said Lahoud. EVOLUTION Corporate…

Links: Click this article’s entry in ‘Table of Contents’ on our website Office clusters are starting to present an alternative in the market. Tenants benefit from proximity to like-minded businesses, a dedicated infrastructure, including high-speed Internet, and service management. The lack of affordable land plots has deterred many developers from venturing into this kind of investment. Finding the right location is crucial and marketing to specific sectors, which such office hubs would attract, requires networking and the use of social media. MAIN PLAYERS A number of developments have recently introduced unique office concepts. The Waterfront City, a mixed-use community in Dbayeh, includes the Business Park, a 12-building section completely tailored to Grade A offices (for high profile clients able to pay high prices) and ground floor retail. The park has…