ONE BEATING HEART
HE François Hollande, President of France, on the historic ties between Lebanon and France.
BIOGRAPHY
François Hollande joined the Socialist Party in 1979, becoming First Secretary from 1997 to 2008. Other prominent positions have included Mayor of Tulle from 2001 to 2008, deputy for Corrèze from 1988 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2012, and Chairman of the General Council of Corrèze from 2008 to 2012. Hollande graduated from HEC Paris and the Institute of Political Studies in Paris, and is an alumnus of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA). As an academic, Hollande held a tenure as professor of economics at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris from 1988 to 1991. In May 2012, Hollande became the seventh president of the French Republic.This year I visited Beirut for the second time since I took over the presidency of the French Republic. The first time I came to Lebanon in 2012, I was received by then-President Michel Suleiman in the middle of an already delicate context for Lebanon. This time around I returned to an adverse context under which the Lebanese people have learned to survive. The ever-threatened security, war at its doorstep, terrorism, and economic difficulties sieve over Lebanon once again, hence I wanted to demonstrate France's solidarity with this country. Although solidarity is a feeble word, what France feels toward Lebanon is friendship. During my stay I had the chance to visit the residency of the French Ambassador to Lebanon, a historic site for French-Lebanese relations for this is the place where in 1941 General Charles de Gaulle expressed his love for this nation. He had stated that the “Lebanese are the only people whose heart has never stopped beating at the same rhythm to France's heart," just as today French people's hearts beat every time Lebanon is threatened. This was a reality once again when last November Lebanon suffered a terrorist attack just a day before France experienced one of its own for both countries represent in their particular way the values of freedom, pluralism, and tolerance.
I traveled to Lebanon to mark my respect for the Lebanese authorities and notably to Prime Minister Tammam Salam, who has repeatedly overcome the testing circumstances he has faced. His government has been able to lead Lebanon in the midst of difficulties; he has been able to assure his country's security and to equally welcome over 1.5 million refugees. His government has shown a great human solidarity toward the refugees, and the world has sometimes forgotten the pressure this has implied to Lebanon itself.
I want to remind Prime Minister Salam that France has taken a new initiative to reunite the international assistance group to Lebanon to mobilize the international community as much as we can to guarantee the stability of Lebanon. France has played a key role in solving this conflict. Furthermore, we need to show that it is possible to restore a country just as Lebanon did in the past, with a sense of reconciliation and equality that gave Lebanon a new image before the eyes of the world.
The refugee crisis is not for Lebanon alone to solve; it is a global responsibility and one that concerns Europe and France. For over four years, Europe believed the Syrian crisis would not have any direct consequence on our internal situation. This blindness impeded the international community from mobilizing promptly to put an end to this conflict. In this sense, to alleviate the crisis in Lebanon by maintaining its stability and sustaining the refugees is also a sign of self-assistance for Europe to keep control of our borders whilst continuing to provide asylum. This is why I decided to extend France's assistance to Lebanon to face these challenges with a monetary contribution of EUR50 million during 2016 and an additional EUR100 million in the course of the following two years. But our contribution does not finish there; we will also reinstall refugees based in Lebanon to France. In 2015 1,000 refugees were reinstalled through the mechanisms we implemented, and we will receive 2,000 more in 2016 and 2017.
We also hope Lebanon can find a solution to its political impasse by electing a new President. When solid institutions are missing, risks arise in any country, particularly when the threats are so evident. This sovereign decision has to be taken by the Lebanese parliament, and we hope it will do so soon as this is in the interest of its nation. I trust the Lebanese parliament will not only find a quick solution to elect a president, but also form a government of national unity and proceed to legislative elections.
We have also assured the security of Lebanon through mechanisms such as UNIFIL, which has been here for a long time. France will continue its efforts to maintain UNIFIL to grant Lebanon the necessary military capacities the country needs to protect and defend itself. The Lebanese army has shown its will and capacity to fulfill its duty and we have committed to immediately contribute the material means and the training needed enforce them.
But overall, we have an extensive French community in Lebanon at the core of this vast bilateral relationship. They hold a deep love for both countries and are the ultimate representation of our mutual values of freedom, pluralism, and tolerance. Today we have a solid economic relationship with Lebanon because of them. Our community also works in favor of the French language, with 41 institutions lecturing programs in French and over 55,000 Lebanese students being educated in our language. We also have a strong cultural and artistic exchange with artists moving between both countries. Both countries have a strong sense of innovation and creative mind-sets, and we incorporate these young talents in projects such as FrenchTech, an incubator for startups.
France and Lebanon have deep-rooted ties cemented in their friendship. We will stay by Lebanon's side because we love Lebanon; a sovereign and independent Lebanon, a plural and multi-confessional Lebanon. An open Lebanon to the outside so Lebanon stays forever close to France, and France always by Lebanon's side.
* From a speech made during President Hollande's visit to Lebanon in May 2016
ONE BEATING HEART
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus: Lebanese-French Relations
Let’s be Franc
Lebanon shares a close relationship with its former colonizer, both in terms of economic relations and cultural identity among Lebanese. In spite of hardships like the presidential power vacuum and Syrian war next door, the bond is only getting stronger.
read articleFocus: Tripoli Economic Free Zone
The Tripoli Transformation
The Tripoli Special Economic Zone (TSEZ) is one of most ambitious projects in Lebanon at the moment. With an initial cost of USD27 million, it is meant to provide an alternative to the heavily centralized economic activity in Beirut, a new gateway for investments and trade to settle in northern Lebanon, and will transform the image of a long-neglected region.
read articleInterview
Dr. Freddie Baz, Vice Chairman & Group Strategy Director, Bank Audi
TBY talks to Dr. Freddie Baz, Vice Chairman & Group Strategy Director of Bank Audi, on the bank's increase in profits, dealing with currency devaluation, and working to turn the economy into an export-driven one.
read articleReview: Insurance
Life is a Rollercoaster
Unlike many emerging markets, Lebanon enjoys a relatively high insurance penetration rate and strong life segment, buoyed by compulsory lines and bancassurance. Competition remains fierce, however, and reform aimed at encouraging consolidation looks far off.
read articleInterview
Max R. Zaccar, Chairman of Commercial Insurance & President of the Association, Insurance Companies
TBY talks to Max R. Zaccar, Chairman of Commercial Insurance & President of the Association of Insurance Companies, on the resilience of the sector, increasing the already-high penetration rates in the country, and remaining one of the strongest insurance companies in the region.
read articleInterview
HE Arthur Nazarian, Minister, Energy and Water Resources
TBY talks to HE Arthur Nazarian, Minister of Energy and Water Resources, on the potential offshoots from oil and gas explorations, the country's National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, and attempts to increase renewable energy consumption.
read articleInterview
Wissam Zahabi, Chairman, Board of the Lebanese Petroleum Administration (LPA),
TBY talks to Wissam Zahabi, Chairman of the Board of the Lebanese Petroleum Administration (LPA), on making the investment climate attractive for foreign companies and becoming self-sufficient in energy.
read articleFocus: Sovereign Wealth Funds
Gas Pipe Dreams
Despite excitement over exploration of Lebanon's hydrocarbons, the creation of a sovereign wealth fund, which was included in legislation, has yet to take place. The country faces several obstacles in its path to creating and properly managing a fund.
read articleInterview
Pierre El Khoury, General Director, Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC)
TBY talks to Pierre El Khoury, General Director of the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC), on the development of energy efficiency in Lebanon, awareness of energy conservation, and the country's 2020 renewable energy goals.
read articleInterview
Dr. Fady Gemayel, President, Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI)
TBY talks to Dr. Fady Gemayel, President of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI), on the group's work to promote industrialists, new developments in terms of industrial cities, and the future of industry in the country.
read articleFocus: Industrial Cities
Industrial Solution
Domestic and regional events have stifled Lebanon in building a strong national industry to protect and sustain its economy. Four proposed industrial zones throughout the country may provide it with the economic backbone it so desperately needs.
read articleInterview
Marianne Hoayek, Director of the Executive Office, Banque du Liban
TBY talks to Marianne Hoayek, Director of the Executive Office of Banque du Liban, on the roots of the Circular 331 concept, bridging funding gaps throughout the startup lifecycle, and the country's growing knowledge economy.
read articleRoundtable
Thinking It Through
On June 12, TBY and the American-Lebanese Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) organized a roundtable titled “Startup ecosystem sustainability: fostering cooperation to drive entrepreneurship." The participants discussed the impact of Circular 331, an initiative by Bank du Liban, the Lebanese central bank, to inject a potential of USD400 million into the local enterprise market and guarantee 75% of banks' investments in startups and startup support.
read articleFocus: Infrastructure for the startup ecosystem
The New Star
Startups are ubiquitous in Lebanon despite the difficulty of starting a business and the lack of services available to new businesses. However, a number of actors, both public and private, are innovating the environment and allowing startups to fulfill a greater role in the country's economy.
read articleFocus: Maritime Exports Bridge
Bridging The Gap
The conflict in Syria has wrought serious damage on the Lebanese economy, effectively closing off the country's trade routes through Syria. However, a new program geared at balancing the price disparities between land and sea transit is poised to help Lebanese industries.
read articleFocus: Real Estate
A Stimulus For The Rest Of Us
The real estate market in Lebanon is nothing like it used to be. The sector has slowed considerably, and demand has shifted from the traditional center, Beirut. However, stimulus packages from the central bank over the years have proven beneficial for all parties involved.
read articleInterview
Armand Pahrés, President, Lebanese Pharmaceutical Importers Association (LPIA)
TBY talks to Armand Pahrés, President of the Lebanese Pharmaceutical Importers Association (LPIA), on the development of legislation in the sector, boosting further innovation, and opportunities for Lebanon to become more self-sufficient in pharmaceuticals.
read articleFocus: Incentives for pharmaceuticals in Lebanon
Pharma Land
Lebanon has always been the region's leader in all things health related. Its pharmaceutical industry is no exception, and the country's incentives for international pharma companies to operate, manufacture, and distribute in Lebanon are only getting stronger.
read articleInterview
HE Elias Bou Saab, Minister, Education and Higher Education
TBY talks to HE Elias Bou Saab, Minister of Education and Higher Education, on the ministry's initiatives to improve the education system, ensuring access to education for Syrian refugee children, and reversing the brain drain in the country.
read articleInterview
Mohamed Harajli, Provost, American University of Beirut (AUB)
TBY talks to Mohamed Harajli, Provost of the American University of Beirut (AUB), on his upcoming plans for the university, the key role played by the AUB alumni, and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among students.
read articleFocus: Programs to school Syrian refugee children
High Marks
Proportional to its population, Lebanon has taken in significantly more Syrian refugees than any other country. With the country now facing the problem of placing the tens of thousands of Syrian children in school, international donors and local and foreign organizations are making educational support a priority.
read articleInterview
Joseph G. Jabbra, President, Lebanese American University (LAU)
TBY talks to Joseph G. Jabbra, President of the Lebanese American University (LAU), on embracing technology at the university, the challenges of Lebanon's brain drain, and the importance of having international links with other institutions.
read article