Lebanese Republic 
Minister Activities for today date 09-10-2019
Minister of Economy & Trade, Mansour Bteish, met today with ambassadors of “MERCOSUR” countries (Argentina, Brasil, Uruguay & Paraguay) in the presence of the Director General of Economy & Trade Alia Abbas. Discussions tackled the progress of the preparations under way to start the negotiations between Lebanon and MERCOSUR Group on the free trade agreement draft next week at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants in the presence of 20 experts representing these countries.
In this regard, Lebanon pins great importance to this agreement to open new markets for Lebanese products and commodities in a country with a vast market of more than 300 million people.
Minister Bteish stressed the importance of developing investments and joint projects in vital and promising sectors such as food industries and energy, which contributes to the exchange of expertise between Lebanon and this Group.
Bteish also met in his office the Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon, Nazih Al-Naggari, who came on a farewell visit upon the end of his diplomatic mission in the country. Discussions touched on the bilateral relations between Lebanon and Egypt.
Later on, Minister Bteish met with a delegation of syndicate of books importers headed by Maroun Nehme in the presence of the Director General Alia Abbas and discussed the customs measures consisting in the presentation of certified invoice for imported goods.
In addition, Minister Bteish met with a delegation of the syndicate of rapid transit headed by Mourad Aoun in the presence of Director General of Economy & Trade Alia Abbas and discussed the customs administration decision stating the necessity to display a certified invoice for the imported goods. To this end, the syndicate affirmed that it will exert its best endeavors to achieve this measure given its importance in controlling the process of customs fees collection.
Minister Mansour Bteish also met with a delegation of the World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency - (MIGA), headed by Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Vijay Iyer. Discussions tackled possible projects of cooperation with the Agency in terms of investment guarantee given the role that the agency may play to guarantee investment in the energy sector, gas extraction, solar energy projects as well as other large-scale projects.
