Lebanese Republic 
Minister of Economy and Trade welcomed today the newly appointed Belgian Ambassador
Arnout Pauwels
Minister of Economy and Trade, Amin Salam, welcomed today the newly appointed Belgian Ambassador Arnout Pauwels in a protocol visit at his office to discuss the Ministry’s information about the damages caused by the recent attacks.
To this end, Minister Salam closely informed the Belgian Ambassador during the meeting on the current social and economic situations as well as the losses figures due to the Israeli attacks in several sectors, such as the social, agricultural, touristic, trade, medical and industrial sectors in addition to other economic sectors. He also revealed to him the cost of the reconstruction process that overpassed tens of billions of dollars in addition to the impact of the successive crisis that affected Lebanon over the past few years.
Furthermore, Minister Salam discussed with the Belgian Ambassador the importance of combatting corruption, organizing the work of the public sector’ institutions that are supposed to generate billions of dollars to the State’ treasury in addition to the need to achieve domestic reforms and the importance of the return of life to all the constitutional institutions, on top of them electing a President of the Republic and forming a new government to gain the trust of the international community; which entail the Lebanese people to opt for solidarity as a national duty, under the follow-up of the international community and the European Union, in particular Belgium; being the founder member in the European Union; and where its capital, Brussels embraces all the European institutions, the headquarter of the European Union; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and many other major international organizations.
In his turn, the Belgian Ambassador, Mr. Arnout Pauwels, highlighted the keenness of his country to maintain the strong historical relations between Lebanon and Belgium as well as the care of the interests of both friendly people. On that basis, it was coordinated to elaborate a work plan between the Ministry of Economy and Trade and several economic bodies in Belgium to start consolidating this cooperation.
Both parties agreed that Minister Salam will communicate with his two Belgium peers, the Minister of Economy and the Minister of Industry and Commerce to discuss the possibility of concluding economic agreements of great interest for both countries, during the Minister Salam’ tour expected to take place in the nearest to meet with the concerned authorities in the Belgium Capital, Brussels.
In his turn, Minister Salam thanked the Belgian Ambassador, Mr. Arnout Pauwels for his visit as well as for the concern of Brussels shown for Lebanon and its prosperity in addition to their keenness to keep working in this regard in order to maintain the best Belgium Lebanese relations and develop them for the common interest.
