Lebanon – Thursday, November 28, 2019: While Lebanon is witnessing a change in its history, while the most spread message is to Support Lebanese Products, Fair Trade Lebanon organized a closing event for its 22 months (February 2018 – November 2019) project Akkar Rural Development Initiative (ARDI), a project funded by the European Union, Expertise France and PSDP Programme. The closing event happened at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Tripoli (CCIAT), with the support of the Directorate General of Cooperatives in Lebanon.
This event brought together around 50 invitees and producers where Fair Trade Lebanon mainly exposed ARDI’s achievements during its implementation period. ARDI project involved around 11 cooperatives that received technical support and machinery in order to provide the local farmers with the necessary tools in the production of high quality, sellable, fruits and vegetables. In addition to that, stakeholders who assisted the team throughout the project, -the University of Balamand and Robinson Agri organization- shared their views on the successful results. On another hand, attendees had the chance to meet the producers who expressed their motivation and satisfaction from their experience and wished for a brighter and promising future, despite the current difficult circumstances. Finally, Fair Trade Lebanon’s team thanked all active staff, consultants, suppliers… for the valuable support they had provided, highlighting their professionalism and efficiency to give farmers’ opportunities to shine.
Toufic Dabbousi – President of the CCIAT inaugurated the ceremony and thanked the guests for their continued encouragement and support. Additionally, Julien Shmitt – PSDP Team Leader from Expertise France talked about the main achievements of the program and the next steps to follow. Philippe Adaime – CEO of Fair Trade Lebanon talked about the importance of clustering, marketing, export but also taking advantage of the current situation to promote Lebanese products. Finally, Gloria Abi Zeid – General Director the General Directorate of Cooperatives in Lebanon highlighted the role of cooperatives, mainly women cooperatives in local economic development.
About Fair Trade Lebanon:
Fair Trade Lebanon currently offers a viable economic model to farmers in rural regions of Lebanon. Providing around 50 cooperatives with adequate equipment, training sessions on hygiene, quality control and best practices according to Fair Trade regulations and principles. Lebanese farmers are now exporting more than 70 high quality Lebanese products through Fair Trade Lebanon’s network to Europe, UK, Australia, the Gulf countries and the United States. It is a great way of helping Lebanese men and women to keep their ancestral skills of farming Lebanese land and producing authentic Lebanese food staying alive and profitable.