Latest news with #AmerBisat
L'Orient-Le Jour
21-07-2025
- Business
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Bisat: No economic recovery without security or monopoly on weapons
Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Bisat said Monday that Lebanon cannot recover economically without first restoring security, chiefly through the state's monopoly on weapons. Since the start of Joseph Aoun's presidency, Lebanese authorities have reaffirmed their willingness to reclaim exclusive control over armed forces, particularly after the latest war between Israel and Hezbollah. 'There will be no economic recovery without security,' Bisat said. 'And there will be no security without the state's monopoly on weapons and on decisions of war and peace.' Two silo projects Turning to Beirut port's grain silos — nearly destroyed in the Aug. 4, 2020, explosion — Bisat said the ministry is pursuing two separate initiatives. 'The first project concerns the old silos in Beirut. It's a complicated issue — ecologically, administratively and politically,' he said. 'The second is to build new silos in strategic areas, including Tripoli and the Bekaa.' Bisat stressed the north's importance, saying, 'There can be no recovery of the Lebanese economy without recovery in Tripoli's economy.' He highlighted the city's labor force, export capacity and artisanal industries. 'We'll do everything we can to support them.' The minister added that the government is 'very optimistic' about an investment plan linking Tripoli's port to the Rachid Karameh International Fair and Qleiaat airport. 'It's an advanced project, and many factors — political, economic and others — are needed to make it succeed,' he said. 'International funding is available, but we must implement reforms.' He confirmed that a board of directors will be formed to oversee the Karameh Fair. 'Tripoli is not being left off the economic map. The North is central to the state's economic plan,' Bisat said, announcing $250 million in World Bank funding for development, including $70 million in low-interest loans. 'We will try to distribute these funds fairly and efficiently.' In early July, rumors of a potential territorial deal between Damascus and Tel Aviv — reportedly involving Israel's occupied Golan Heights and the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli — sparked alarm in Lebanon. Tripoli remains one of the country's poorest cities. The Rachid Karameh International Fair, designed in the 1960s by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, was meant to be a regional hub for trade shows, cultural events and exhibitions. Once a symbol of Lebanon's post-independence ambitions, it has long sat idle. 'This is a national treasure,' Bisat said earlier this month. 'It can no longer be treated as just a beautiful architectural site. It must fulfill its economic potential.' Government 'committed' to Qleiaat Airport On the proposed redevelopment of Rene Moawad Airport in Qleiaat, Bisat said the government is finalizing studies on its economic and financial viability, with results expected by year's end. 'Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is committed to this project,' he said. 'We are studying the best path to launch it.' Built by the French military in 1938 and handed to the Lebanese Army in 1966, the airport was renamed in honor of President Rene Moawad, who was elected there before his assassination in 1989. The Salam government hopes to rehabilitate the site to supplement Beirut's main airport and bolster Akkar's long-overlooked economy.
MTV Lebanon
15-07-2025
- Business
- MTV Lebanon
Bisat concludes South Lebanon tour with economic dialogue in Sidon
Economy and Trade Minister Amer Bisat wrapped up his tour of South Lebanon and Nabatieh with a roundtable discussion at the Chamber of Commerce in Sidon, attended by Director General Dr. Mohammad Abou Haidar, Chamber President Mohamad Saleh, and key economic stakeholders. Saleh welcomed the visit, noting the importance of government engagement with local business leaders to assess challenges and drive recovery, particularly in areas impacted by Israeli aggression. He stressed the need for tax exemptions for affected industries, support for SMEs, and incentives to boost exports and investment. Bisat reaffirmed the government's strong commitment to the South, not only due to the damage caused by recent hostilities, but because the region historically contributes nearly 30% of Lebanon's national production across agriculture, industry, trade, and tourism. He described the South as central to Lebanon's economic recovery and pledged collaborative action to support its revitalization.
LBCI
30-05-2025
- Business
- LBCI
Economy Minister meets Starlink regional director, pledges support for launching operations in Lebanon
Economy and Trade Minister Amer Bisat met with the Middle East Regional Director of Starlink. He affirmed that "the launch of the company's operations in Lebanon will provide the private sector with additional, reliable, and efficient internet services." A statement from the Ministry of Economy noted that 'in line with the ministry's goal of facilitating the Ease of Doing Business, Minister Bisat pledged to assist the company in swiftly establishing its operations in Lebanon.'
LBCI
21-05-2025
- Business
- LBCI
Lebanon prepares for high-level visit to Iraq to boost bilateral cooperation
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam chaired a ministerial meeting attended by Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, Economy Minister Amer Bisat, and Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi, as part of preparations for an upcoming official visit to Iraq aimed at strengthening cooperation on shared development projects. The visit follows ongoing coordination between Prime Minister Salam and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, focusing on expanding bilateral ties, particularly in the energy sector. Central to the talks will be the rehabilitation and activation of the oil pipeline between Iraq and Lebanon, establishing a special economic zone for petrochemical manufacturing and storage, and developing a fiber optic line from Iraq through Lebanon to Europe. The agenda also includes reactivating the Iraqi-Lebanese joint committee and encouraging private sector investments between the two countries. The Lebanese delegation aims to deepen economic and strategic cooperation in ways that serve both nations' long-term development goals.
LBCI
19-05-2025
- Business
- LBCI
Master plan for Beirut Port: Grain silos' fate uncertain as reconstruction talks move forward
Report by Lara El Hachem, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi The Beirut Port Authority is moving forward with plans to expand its public-private partnership model, proposing a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement to manage the unloading and storage of vehicles at the port. The proposal is part of a broader master plan developed in cooperation with French experts to rehabilitate the port, which was heavily damaged in the 2020 explosion. Private sector collaboration is not new for the Beirut Port, which has already contracted international companies to operate the container terminal and manage cargo storage under the supervision of the temporary port management committee. The new BOT model would allow a private entity to build and operate the vehicle unloading facility for a set period before transferring control back to the state. The master plan is expected to be funded entirely by port revenues, which reached $150 million in 2024, up sharply from just $5 million in 2021 following the blast. The proposal also reserves a 25,000-square-meter plot for potential reconstruction of the grain silos, pending a final decision by the Ministries of Economy and Public Works. Economy Minister Amer Bisat confirmed that no decision has been made regarding whether the public or private sector would manage the silos. The ministry awaits the completion of a feasibility study that will determine the silos' location, size, and cost. In the short term, concerns over the deteriorating condition of the damaged silos persist. Fermented wheat inside the structure continues to emit hazardous fumes, creating an urgent environmental and public health risk. The Environment Ministry is awaiting the findings of a technical committee, while the Culture Minister remains in contact with families of port explosion victims, who view the silos as a site of profound symbolic value. The current government hopes to resolve the issue where its predecessor failed.
