Lebanese Republic 
Minister activities today 19-07-2018
Minister of Economy and Trade Raed Khoury received a delegation of the Syndicate of Importers of Foodstuff, headed by its Chairman Hani Bohsali whereof the delegation expressed its concern due to the decision that the Minister took last month on preventing the import of some Turkish products. In this regard, Minister Khoury assured that this decision does not target anyone; nevertheless it aims to protect the lebanese industries and hence, contributes in its development and growth to foster the lebanese economy.
Furthermore, Minister Khoury reiterated that the Importers of Foodstuff should adapt to the banning decision for it is in the interest of the lebanese economy in order to reduce the deficit in the trade balance. To this purpose, he explained that this decision had a positive impact on some countries that considered to increase their imports from Lebanon in order to avoid any other decisions similar to the Turkish one.
In its turn, the delegation called on the Ministry to participate in the decisions-making by establishing a committee composed of both the syndicate and the Ministry. In addition, Minister Khoury assured that he will exert his best efforts to modify the international treaties concluded with Arab and European countries to the interest of Lebanon.
Moreover, Minister Khoury met a delegation of the electrical equipments companies to discuss the communication made by him where he urged the traders to provide electromechanical meters pursuant to the required standards. Experts from the Industrial Research Institute also attended the meeting to explain the requested technical standards upon which each imported meter will be examined and verified.
Finally, Minister Khoury welcomed a delegation of nuts and coffee roasters in Lebanon rendering this visit to reveal the challenges faced by this industry, especially in terms of the products deployment. It is to mention that lebanese products are banned to access the Syrian market while the latter’s products flood the lebanese market; entering through legal and illegal border crossings. Consequently, the delegation called the lebanese government to apply similar measures against the Syrian products. In his turn, Minister Khoury declared that he has taken the issue and is following up on; enabling the lebanese industries to flourish in the future. At the end, he assured them that the issue will be addressed as soon as possible.
