About the Federation

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon (FCCIAL) was established in 1997 as the national umbrella of the four regional Chambers in Lebanon. They are:

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Beirut and Mount Lebanon (CCIABML)

CCIABML was established in 1887. It is an institution for public benefit and has an independent legal personality. The Chamber promotes the development of business enterprises. Today, it represents more than 15,000 firms, most of which are SMEs. With such a strong base, CCIABML is one of the main reference organizations for Lebanon's business establishments. Link to chamber website: www.ccib.org.lb

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Saida and the South (CCIAS)

CCIAS was established in 1933 as a non-profit organization under public law, with the aim of protecting and prompting economic interests by developing a constructive relationship between private and public entities. The Chamber has been entrusted by the government with the task of attesting invoices and issuing certificates of origin and submitting of commercial documents relating to the export of goods from Lebanon. Link to chamber website: www.ccias.org.lb

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Tripoli and the North (CCIAT)

CCIAT was established in 1870; it has a long and proud tradition of serving the interests of the business community. CCIAT is a not-for-profit public utility organization, specialized in supporting trade, industry, agriculture and services. The Chamber is committed to improve economic vitality and quality of life in the region, by providing a wide range of services that will enable businesses to prosper, reflecting a dynamic and modern environment. Link to chamber website: www.cciat.org.lb

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Zahle and the Bekaa (CCIAZ)

The CCIAZ was established in 1939 and represents the interests of the commercial, industrial and agricultural sectors in the Bekaa. CCIAZ provides information, proposals and projects aiming at the development of the Lebanese economy to government departments and affiliated members, facilitates contacts between members and local authorities and foreign embassies, resolves disputes among members by means of reconciliation or arbitration, delivers certificates of origin, validates bills and documents as well as the signatures of registered members, and provides information about the dates and venues of international exhibitions Link to chamber website: www.cciaz.org.lb

 

Charting a New Direction

The Federation's new strategic direction, as outlined below, will revolve around a commitment to work in unison with regional Chambers to realize FCCIAL's main functions and reach new milestones.

 

Main Functions

FCCIAL coordinates among the four Lebanese Chambers, with the aim of achieving, sustaining and driving their common interests. FCCIAL's main activities include, among others:

Unifying the efforts of regional Chambers to promote the interests of the national economy.

Representing the interests of the regional Chambers vis-à-vis local and international official entities.

Coordinating with relevant entities to build a national consensus on important economic issues.

Exchanging views and expertise with international institutions with the aim of driving and promoting the national economy.

Coordinating and liaising with all Arab and international Federations.

Coordinating among Chambers to create synergies, enhance complementarities, optimize the delivery of services and avoid duplication.

Organizing and participating in economic conferences and international exhibitions.

Collecting and analyzing economic data..

 

Milestones

In the past few years, the Federation endeavored to achieve its objectives against the backdrop of difficult economic and political conditions. During that time, FCCIAL upheld its commitment and determination to support enterprises from all sectors, including industry, tourism and trade, in coordination with other economic organizations in Lebanon as well as relevant authorities.

 

In that connection, the Federation closely monitored economic developments in the country, including fiscal and monetary policies, privatization, trade facilitation and trade agreements, by participating actively in private sector-public sector committees and councils.

 

Furthermore, this period also witnessed major developments concerning trade liberalization represented by multilateral agreements, such as the Greater Arab Free Trade Area, the World Trade Organization, and the Lebanon-EU Association Agreement, as well as bilateral agreements with several countries. Again, the Federation was at the forefront of efforts to expand trade relations and promote Lebanese exports.

 

The Federation cooperated closely with the General Union for the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Arab Countries on issues that are of common interest among Arab states. The Federation also enhanced its involvement in joint Chambers with many countries, and participated in several international exhibitions to promote Lebanese goods and the "Lebanon Brand."

 

President: Mr. Muhammad Nizar Shuqair

 

Vision, Mission & Goals

Vision

To build an increasingly dynamic and globally competitive Lebanese economy.

Mission

To promote the common interests of the four regional Chambers vis-à-vis the Lebanese Government and other national and international institutions, by being:

• The main economic lobbying group in Lebanon
• A versatile service provider
• The key interlocutor with external parties on economic issues, specifically those connected to commerce, industry and agriculture

Goals

• Implementing a new strategic plan
• Advocating transparency, ethics and values in business
• Diversifying FCCIAL’s services
• Promoting sustainable growth

 

Activities & Services

FCCIAL coordinates among the four Lebanese Chambers, with the aim of achieving, sustaining and driving their common interests. FCCIAL’s main activities include, among others:

• Unifying the efforts of regional Chambers to promote the interests of the national economy.
• Representing the interests of the regional Chambers vis-à-vis local and international official entities.
• Coordinating with relevant entities to build a national consensus on important economic issues.
• Exchanging views and expertise with international institutions with the aim of driving and promoting the national economy.
• Coordinating and liaising with all Arab and international Federations.
• Coordinating among Chambers to create synergies, enhance complementarities, optimize the delivery of services and avoid duplication.
• Organizing and participating in economic conferences and international exhibitions.
• Collecting and analyzing economic data.

SME Center

Surviving

Lebanon has had to meet internal and external challenges throughout its recent history. Yet the country continues as a significant hub in the global economy. In order to survive and thrive, Lebanon continues to adopt modern business methods, thereby integrating itself more firmly in the global economy. This applies to the nation’s economy, in general, and to Lebanese enterprises, in particular. In this regard, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon (FCCIAL) and the Industrial Research Institute (IRI) have played leading roles in providing economic and technical solutions to address the diverse needs of Lebanese SMEs.

 

TASDIER

(FCCIAL) is delighted to welcome you to the Portal for International Export Requirements (TASDIER). It is a public database that includes information on technical requirements for export, assembled from online sources and /or links to international sites of certain destination countries, covering both fresh and processed food products most frequently traded by Lebanese food producers.

This important initiative is but one of the translations of FCCIAL’s decision to work for the common interest of the four Lebanese regional chambers and to diversify its services. TASDIER will contribute to the ability of (FCCIAL) to provide relevant services to SMEs wishing to export food products.

 

Market Information Services (MIS)

Within the Market Information Service (MIS), the FCCIAL provides information services on fruits and vegetables in the local and export markets.

 

Initiatives

FCCIAL will endeavor to accomplish its responsibilities towards the four regional Chambers and their members, and to fulfill its overall objectives, by playing an increasingly proactive role in providing an array of useful services, which include, among others:

In response to the ever-growing demands of Lebanese SMEs for affordable and specialized business services, FCCIAL decided to launch a vital initiative for the sustainable development of local enterprises: The SME Center.

The Center aspires to become a key "one-stop-shop" destination for dynamic, growth-oriented SMEs, providing them with all the technical services that they need to accomplish their growth plans.

Given the scarcity of affordable professional business services, the SME Center's role becomes even more important for the following reasons:

• Improving the capability of SMEs to compete more efficiently on domestic, regional, and global markets, as well as expanding their share of trade;
• Increasing the competitiveness of the Lebanese economy, and increasing employment through the resulting stimulation of productivity;
• Enhancing the capabilities of SMEs for product development to reach new clients and new markets;
• Building up the innovation capacities in SMEs.
• The SME Center's staff will bring a vital ingredient in business consulting: A deep understanding of SMEs, their priorities and challenges, as well as a commitment to help them professionally and ethically.

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon, along with important local partners, will launch a National Campaign aiming to maintain the highest food safety standards in Lebanese restaurants, hotels and catering establishments. The National Campaign will help shape and reinforce Lebanon's image as a clean, hospitable country and a premier destination for culinary delights.

The two main components of the National Campaign are:

1)  Awareness-raising Activities; and,

2)  Training Workshops on "Food Safety in the Hospitality Industry."

 

The Awareness-raising Activities will aim to accomplish the following objectives:

• Promote food safety and hygiene culture among the food service hospitality industry with food caterers, restaurant owners, managers and staff, Hotel restaurants and kitchen managers and staff; to be referred to in the text as the food service hospitality industry.
• Allow owners, operators and managers of the food service hospitality industry, to understand all the food safety risks faced by their food and learn how to reduce those risks.
• Improve operations and provide food safety knowledge and skills to owners, managers, chefs, and workers of the food service hospitality industry.
• Work for the establishment of statutory and regulatory directives and compliance criteria, based on international standards of food safety and hygiene.

 

The Training Workshops will aim to meet the following goals:

• To allow food-service owners, operators and managers, to understand all the food safety risks faced by their food operations.
• To learn how to reduce those risks.
• To improve operations and provide knowledge, skills and know-how to owners, managers, chefs, and workers.
• To focus on the flow of food from purchasing until final preparation.
• To comply with and obtain certification on international food safety standards such as Good Restaurant Practices, HACCP, ISO 22000 and other standards.

 

Programs

Dual System Training – DSME

Cooperative Vocational Education and Training and the Role of Chambers

Cooperative Vocational Education and Training also known as Dual System (DS) education, is regarded as the backbone of German Industry as it secures sufficient and highly qualified workforce to the economy.  DS training combines traditional school teaching with hands-on experience at a private company partnered with the school.

Private sector institutions and intermediaries play a major role in ensuring the quality and sustainability of the DS.

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon as well as the four Lebanese chambers of commerce are committed to enhance vocational education and training in order to meet the needs and requirements of the economy and the labor market.

 

The DSME Program in Lebanon

In 1995, the DS education started in Lebanon in selected schools, and is constantly evolving since then, thanks to the Lebanese-German Program Promotion of Vocational Education and Small and Medium Enterprise Development – DSME. The Program is supported by the German Government (Bundesministeriun fuer wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit – BMZ) via the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

The DSME aims that the government and private sector jointly shape cooperative (dual) vocational training. The Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon (FCCIAL) is engaged as implementing partner, together with the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

 

Chambers Involvement in Human Resource Development

The four Lebanese chambers of commerce, industry and agriculture, with the support of the DSME Program, pave the way to become more involved in initial and further vocational training, and seek to facilitate the Public-Private Dialogue between the vocational school system (TVET) and the SME sectors.

 

UNIDO-EDIP

The Program

Entrepreneurs are not only born but can also be identified, trained and developed.

 

Setting up one’s business call for certain competencies. Those who have an aptitude to be successful entrepreneurs can be assisted in strengthening the requisite competencies. With this philosophy, the program is designed to suit Lebanon’s business environment aimed at assisting potential entrepreneurs translate their ideas into commercial ventures in manufacturing / service sectors. The assistance will be through formal training on various aspects in enterprise building starting from identifying business opportunities, developing business plans, strengthening entrepreneurial competencies and acquiring the essential skills to manage a small venture. The participants will also receive counseling /advisory services to facilitate project implementation.

Who should attend?

All those who possess a desire to set up their own small enterprise in Lebanon

We also welcome university graduates and those currently employed but aspired to establish their own businesses

Benefits

All those who regularly attend the program will stand to derive the following benefits:

• Clarity on their business idea
• Necessary skills in preparing a business plan
• Assistance by ways of counseling to prepare a business plan
• Opportunity to sharpen entrepreneurial competencies that contribute to a top performance
• Understanding the intricacies for managing a small enterprise.

Content

With the ultimate objective of assisting potential entrepreneurs to set up their enterprises, the program has been designed to cover the following:

• Setting up a small enterprise in Lebanon Rules, procedures and formalities whom to contact for what nature and extent of assistance available from various institutions.
• Business opportunity Identification How to identify a business opportunity, how to screen them, to firm up a business idea for further exploration.
• Market Assessment: How to access the market potential, guidance in carrying out field work for market assessment for the proposed products / services.
• Entrepreneurial Competencies
• Business Plan: Skills in preparing a business plan and assistance in finalizing the same
• Essentials of managing a small enterprise:
• Inputs on how to implement a project.
• Subsequent to the classroom training, there is a vigorous follow up mechanism to provide counseling with the ultimate objective of facilitating project implementation and identifying the right technology which would lead to developing partnerships with foreign investors.

Faculty

The program will be conducted by a team of well-qualified trainers and experts from ARCEIT and UNIDO.

Expectations from Participants:

• Be in a position to devote necessary time to attend the training and counseling sessions regularly.
• Be committed to setting up of their own enterprises.