Summary

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Saida and South Lebanon met with an IDAL delegation to strengthen cooperation on investment and economic recovery. Discussions focused on supporting affected businesses, identifying promising investment opportunities, and attracting Lebanese, Arab, and international investors. Both sides emphasized practical cooperation to revive productive sectors, preserve jobs, and support sustainable development in South Lebanon.

Description

“Strengthening partnership and coordination between the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Saida and South Lebanon and the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), to turn available opportunities into concrete projects and investments” was the theme of a meeting held at the Chamber’s headquarters.

The meeting was attended by Chamber President Mr. Mohammad Saleh, Vice Presidents Engineer Omar Dandashli and Mr. Jamal Jouni, and Treasurer Mr. Samir Kotob.

The IDAL delegation included Dr. Majed Mneimneh, Chairman and Director General, and Board Members Mr. Abbas Ramadan, Mr. Hassan Halabi, and Ms. Reem Darbas.

Also attending were Mr. Ali El Sharif, President of the Saida Traders Association; Engineer Mounir Bsat, Vice President of the Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industrialists and Secretary General for External Relations at the Association of Lebanese Industrialists; Mr. Mohammad Afif Ghaddar, representing Ghaddar Machinery; and Mr. Haidar Abbas, representing Ali Abbas Company.

Saleh

Chamber President Mr. Mohammad Saleh opened the meeting by welcoming IDAL Chairman and Director General Dr. Majed Mneimneh and the accompanying delegation.

“We are pleased to welcome you and extend our sincere congratulations on your appointment as Chairman of IDAL. We wish you and your team every success in fulfilling this national responsibility, with IDAL serving as a key institution for encouraging investment, supporting productive sectors, promoting Lebanese exports, and creating new job opportunities,” he said.

Saleh added: “You assume this responsibility at a critical and pivotal time for Lebanon, amid major economic and social challenges that require us all to join efforts to move from crisis management towards recovery and revival. We approach this phase with renewed hope for restoring IDAL’s leading role.”

He continued: “At the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Saida and South Lebanon, we believe that economic recovery can only be achieved through balanced development across all regions, particularly Saida and South Lebanon, which have borne immense burdens and need meaningful initiatives to revive their businesses and productive sectors.”

He concluded: “We therefore look forward to strengthening partnership and coordination between our Chamber and IDAL, turning available opportunities into concrete projects and investments that support small, medium-sized, and large enterprises, contribute to reconstruction, and stimulate economic activity.”

Mneimneh

For his part, Dr. Mneimneh explained that the current circumstances are exceptional, shaped by the destruction that has affected large areas of South Lebanon, its businesses, productive sectors, and people’s livelihoods. He emphasized the important role of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Saida and South Lebanon as a key partner in identifying private-sector needs and contributing to recovery efforts.

He said that the challenge extends beyond rebuilding what has been destroyed to restoring economic activity, preserving jobs, and helping businesses, farmers, industrialists, and traders resume their operations.

In this context, he highlighted IDAL’s role, within its legally defined mandate and powers, in encouraging domestic and foreign investment, promoting investment opportunities in Lebanon, providing information to investors, and assisting them in completing procedures related to their projects, in coordination with the relevant public authorities and institutions. He clarified that IDAL does not replace the bodies responsible for financing, compensation for damages, or reconstruction.

He called for a cooperation initiative between IDAL and the Chamber through a joint working meeting to identify the needs of affected businesses and sectors, map investment opportunities with development potential, and select promising projects to promote to Lebanese investors and Arab and international partners.

“The Chamber, through its field experience and relationships with businesses, can help identify priorities, while IDAL, within its mandate, can work to develop and promote investment opportunities and guide investors through procedures falling within its jurisdiction, in cooperation with the relevant authorities,” he added.

He concluded: “South Lebanon is more than a region in need of reconstruction. It is rich in human talent and productive potential, deserves to regain its economic role, and its people deserve opportunities for employment and stability. At IDAL, we hope this meeting will mark the beginning of a practical and lasting partnership—one that moves from identifying challenges to defining projects, and from exchanging ideas to actionable steps, strengthening business resilience and helping restore economic activity in Saida and South Lebanon.”