Prime Minister Salim Al-Hoss expressed optimism and comfort at the increased number of foreign companies that intend to invest in Lebanon adding this is a good sign.
Hoss was speaking during the opening of the Second Arab Banking Conference Thursday in Beirut. Hoss listed the accomplishments of his government on the financial level noting that Lebanon is looking forward to improve its economic performance.
The Prime Minister said the financial sector forms one pillar of the national economy noting Lebanon's pioneering role in developing and boosting this sector within the country's economic policies.
Under the patronage of Prime Minister Salim Al-Hoss, the government launched a project of economic and social development for southern Lebanon. The plan was formulated by the governmental Higher Relief Committee in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program in Lebanon.
The plan, also to be organized by the Council for Development and Reconstruction, includes a variety of developmental projects that will be implemented in the South in three stages: during the Israeli occupation, during the expected Israeli withdrawal, and five years after the withdrawal.
The plan aims at modernizing the South's ways of life, boosting its civil society, the situation of women and improving the condition at schools. It also includes a number of social, economic and environmental projects in addition to activities in many other fields.
The funding of the project comes as follows: 19% to be provided by the Lebanese government, 38% by the UNDP, 8% by the Arab Gulf Fund and 4% by Irish government.
Lebanon's Minister of Trade, Industry and Economy Nasser Al-Saiidi earlier this week opened in Armenia an exhibition of Lebanese industrial products. Saiidi said during the opening that Lebanon's geographic location qualifies it to become a regional center that provides financial, banking, investment and tourism services.
Saiidi reiterated the government's concern with the industrial sector through developing rules and regulations that support the private sector and boost investment factors.
Minister Saiidi called on Armenian businessmen to implement agreements signed with Lebanon stressing that Lebanon can be Armenia's pathway to the Middle East. Saiidi was said to be the last foreign official to meet the Armenian Prime Minister before the latter was killed during the latest Armenia developments.
Lebanon's Minister of Culture and Higher Education Mohammed Youssef Beydoun this week took part in a conference for the UNESCO in Paris. During one of the conference's sessions, Beydoun stressed the importance of unity between the culture of peace and the culture of justice and respect of rights.
Beydoun considered that education is a principal basis for security, peace, development and the protection of the environment. The Lebanese Minister revealed that his country would host in the year 2001 a world conference on dialogue between cultures.
A delegation from the American Research Institute, headed by the institute's executive director James Thomson, was in Lebanon this week for an inspection visit to the country.
The delegation held talks with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nasser Al-Saiidi, who explained the ministry's economic, industrial and trade plans.
Saiidi informed the delegation of his ministry's plan to form a national committee for information technology. The minister said the American Research Institute can help the Lebanese government in this field. Thomson promised the institute will send specialists in this field to implement such ideas in the near future.
Under the patronage of Lebanese President Emil Lahhoud, the fourth annual International Conference for Arab-US Association for Communication Educators was held at the Lebanese American University in Beirut as part of activities and events marking the university's 75th anniversary.
The conference was held between October 26-29 and under the banner: "Communication for the 21st Century: Building a Civil Society." Information Minister Anwar Al-Khalil represented President Lahhoud during the opening ceremony on Tuesday night, voicing in his speech the president's backing for the conference.
The opening ceremony included speeches by AUSACE President Carolyn Crimmins, LAU Vice President for Academic Affairs Nabil Haydar and Conference Secretary Magda Abu-Fadil.
The conference also included a board meeting for AUSACE and lectures by communication educators from the US, UK, the Czech Republic, Malaysia, Egypt, Morocco, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Palestine National Authority, India and Lebanon. Around 100 media professionals and academics were in Beirut to take part in the event.
Among the topics on the agenda of discussions were the Arab role in globalcivil society, empowering the Arab World with information and knowledge to build a civil society, building a civil society in the Middle East, media globalization, media law and policies and many other topics.
Today, the conference ends with a workshop focusing on the relationship between non-governmental organizations and media relations. On the last day of the four-day conference, a meeting will also be held for the coordination committee and a closing ceremony will follow.
Queen Noor Al-Hussein of Jordan visited Lebanon this week accompanied by former Jordanian Information Minister Layla Sharaf. The Jordanian Queen held talks with President Emil Lahhoud, who praised her humanitarian work in the field of combating landmines.
Queen Noor is currently on international crusade to promote the Ottawa Treaty for banning the use of landmines. Queen Noor campaigns for raising awareness about the threats of landmines worldwide. The queen also spearheads a campaign to preserve national heritage and improve the rights of women and children, the environment, culture and health.
Accompanied by First Lady Andree Lahhoud, Queen Noor attended the inauguration of an exhibition for Arab and Islamic Calligraphy organized by the Society of the Friends of the Museum at the American University of Beirut. The Queen also met with a number of Jordanian students studying at AUB.
Lebanon last weekend elected its new beauty queen for the year 1999 during a contest that was broadcast live by the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) from the Beirut Hall in Sin Al-Fil.
The country's last beauty queen of the millenium, Norma Naaoum, won the title of Miss Lebanon 1999. The 22-year-old university student was elected from among 20 contestants by a jury of eight members. Sahar Ghazzawi and Nicole Ghazal were respectively named first and second runner-ups.
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