Summary

A meeting was held at the Chamber of Saida and the South between the Hariri Foundation and "Berytech" with the aim of cooperating to support and empower entrepreneurs in the south. During the meeting, participants discussed the current state of entrepreneurship and the challenges caused by the war, emphasizing the role of the private sector and incubators in creating job opportunities that help southern residents remain in their land and stimulate the economy. The President of the Chamber, Mr. Mohammad Saleh, affirmed the Chamber’s readiness to cooperate, noting that this phase requires preparation for future opportunities. Mrs. Bahia Hariri stressed the importance of supporting youth and developing their skills, as academic degrees alone are no longer enough. Meanwhile, the representative of "Berytech" pointed out three cooperation opportunities: business incubation, benefiting from Berytech’s programs, and helping the private sector market southern Lebanese products. In conclusion, the parties agreed to follow up on this cooperation with practical next steps.

Description

Hariri Foundation, Saida and South Chamber, and Berytech Hold Meeting to Explore Cooperation in Empowering Entrepreneurs and Creating Jobs to Keep Southerners in Their Land

A joint meeting was held at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Saida and the South between the Hariri Foundation, represented by its President Mrs. Bahia Hariri, the Chamber, represented by its President Mr. Mohammad Saleh, and a delegation from Berytech led by Deputy General Manager Mr. Nikola Farhat, to develop and empower entrepreneurs. The meeting was attended by the teams of the Hariri Foundation and the Saida and South Chamber, within the framework of the memoranda of understanding signed between the Foundation and the Chamber, and between the Foundation and Berytech.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the state of entrepreneurship in the South, particularly in Saida, and discussed the damages caused by the recent Israeli war on Lebanon and its direct negative effects on entrepreneurs in the productive sectors of the South.

The participants emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of the private sector at all stages, from needs assessment and design to the work of micro, small, and medium enterprises, as well as the positive role that business incubators, accelerators, and individual mentoring in the Saida and South Chamber can play in supporting projects and businesses. This, in turn, can contribute to creating job opportunities, helping Southerners remain in their land, boosting the national economy, and promoting innovation in fields such as trade, agriculture, technology, services, and other productive sectors.

The attendees also confirmed that youth are one of the key target groups, as they are a fundamental pillar for enhancing entrepreneurship and economic development.

Saleh
Mr. Saleh welcomed the delegations of the Hariri Foundation and Berytech, expressing the Chamber’s readiness to do whatever can contribute to the success of this cooperation. He said: “The South is entering a period where it urgently needs support. Several countries are ready to help but are waiting for stability. Through these meetings and cooperation, we are preparing the ground to be ready when conditions allow. I will give some examples of sectors that can benefit from this cooperation and create additional job opportunities by linking with other connected sectors as an integrated chain.”

Hariri
Mrs. Hariri thanked Mr. Saleh for hosting the meeting and Berytech for their attendance and cooperation. She said: “We face significant challenges, and joint cooperation has become more than necessary. We need to pave the way for young people to find productive work that can involve multiple parties. As a foundation, we consider ourselves among the first to start this groundwork. Capacity building is a key goal for us because academic degrees alone are no longer enough; young people need additional skills to keep up with modern developments. Together with you, we can achieve this. God willing, this will be a success story for the entire region, especially since, after the recent war, there is significant determination to develop the capacities of the South. The South is a priority, and it is important for us that people remain in their land and can secure their livelihoods through their own abilities. This is what we will cooperate on with you.”

Berytech Representative
Mr. Farhat spoke on behalf of Berytech, thanking the Saida and South Chamber and the Hariri Foundation for the invitation and hosting. He said: “Since the 2020 crisis, Berytech has become a partner with several international organizations to implement projects in Lebanon and abroad, focusing on entrepreneurship, innovation, and supporting small, medium, and large companies, as well as the private sector, which cannot succeed or expand without a nurturing environment. This can only be achieved through cooperation and partnership between the private and public sectors, and chambers of commerce across all regions are a focal point for us in this regard. Today, there are three opportunities for cooperation with the Chamber and the Foundation: assisting in business incubation and empowering entrepreneurs, benefiting from Berytech programs, and helping the private sector market southern Lebanese products.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, it was agreed to translate this cooperation into practical steps moving forward.