Tripoli, 11 October, 2017. Under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Hussein Al Hajj Hassan, Minister of Industry, in the presence of Mr. Yoshitake Naraoka, Vice Deputy Head of Mission from the Embassy of Japan, H.E. Mr. Mohammad Kabbara, Minister of Labor, Mr. Ahmad Diab, representing H.E. Mr. Marwan Hamade, Minister of Education and Mr. Cristiano Pasini, UNIDO Regional Representative; UNIDO celebrated the Graduation of 130 Carpenters trained within the framework of “Supporting the Furniture Sector in Northern Lebanon through upgrading and skills training”.
The project, funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNIDO, has the objective to create economic opportunities and jobs in the carpentry sector in the North of Lebanon, particularly among youth and women in vulnerable communities. As part of the project, more than 130 Carpenters and Youth were trained at the Vocational Training Center on Carpentry which was previously rehabilitated by UNIDO in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and the Directorate General of Vocational and Technical Education.
The trainings focused on different aspects of carpentry to build the capacity of carpenters and youth by introducing new innovative techniques and for the carpenters to expand their market opportunities access and increase manufacturing competitiveness.
The ceremony started with a show and tell about the project, and was followed by the distribution of the certificates to trainees issued by the Directorate General of Vocational and Technical Education.
“The furniture cluster in the North has been facing numerous challenges with production and demand have been steadily declining,” said Cristiano Pasini UNIDO Representative. “This project has been contributing to reversing this trend: together with our partners from the government and private sector, we have been helping small and medium-producers to manufacture new quality products and equipping young people with higher skills to find employment opportunities”
Mr. Yoshitake Naraoka, representing the Japanese Ambassador in Lebanon said: “I am positive that through the intensive training provided at the Carpentry Vocational Training Centre, both youth and professional carpenters are now better equipped to excel in their trade and to find employment opportunities”.
Mr. Ahmed Diab, the Representative of the Minister of Education and Higher Education, pointed out that the number of the female graduated is much more than the male ones, and said: “In fact, we wanted both to be equal, and this training should be circulated to all the provinces in Lebanon as they play an important role in the development of the economy.”
For his part, the Minister of Labor, Mr. Mohamed Kabara, thanked the Japanese Embassy for its continuous support, especially to the furniture sector in North Lebanon. He added: “The industry of this sector has declined a lot as foreign industries have become very competitive but without the craftsmanship and quality of our domestic industry. And I am honored to graduate together a new batch of vocational training student”.
The Minister Hussein al-Haj Hassan declared: “This work is in fact part of the Ministry of Industry’s approach, which is keen to raise the level of competence and skill of workers and employers. Industry in Lebanon is one of the sectors that had a history and definitely has a future.”