© EuroMed@Change 2013 3

Building EuroMed partnerships

This guide is designed as a Doing business toolkit for

clusters, SMEs, or entrepreneurs interested in

developing business partnerships in the agri-food

sector in Lebanon. It provides an overview of the

main opportunities available in the private sector, as

well as concrete and useful data to those interested

to go further (contacts, agenda of events, etc.).

References

The Mediterranean Business Guide, focus on Agri-

food in Lebanon has been prepared by ANIMA

Investment Network under the EuroMed@Change

Project, a Preparatory Action initiated by the

European Parliament and implemented by the

European Commission (DG Enterprise and Industry).

EuroMed@Change proposes new dynamics for SME

and cluster internationalisation between Europe and 4

targeted partner countries: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt

and Lebanon. It is managed by four organisations

from across Europe (ANIMA Investment network as

Project leader, the European Business Innovation

Centre Network, INNO AG and the Fondation Sophia

Antipolis as partners) and it coordinates with more

than 45 associated regional business, finance and

innovation networks.

Authors

This Business Guide has been prepared and drafted by Manal Tabet, with contributions from Zoé Luçon

(FDI section), Amina Ziane Cherif (maps), Jeanne Lapujade (proofreading), Lauriane Ammouche (Layout), ANIMA.

The author would like to warmly thank The Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (Diana Menhem & Abbas Ramadan) and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Zahlé and the Bekaa (Said Gedeon & Gloria Hanna), for their support and contributions.

Disclaimer

This publication has been produced with the support of the European Commission. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of ANIMA Investment Network and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the views of the European Union”.

Copyright

© EuroMed@Change May 2013. No part of this

publication may be reproduced without express

authorisation. All rights reserved.

Table of contents

List of acronyms

ANIMA-MIPO: Mediterranean Foreign Direct

Investments and Partnerships announcements Observatory implemented and managed by ANIMA

CDR: Council for Development and Reconstruction

EU: European Union

FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization

FDI: Foreign Direct Investment

Ha: Hectare

IDAL: Investment Development Authority of Lebanon

MED 10 countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Turkey

MoA: Ministry of Agriculture

MoET: Ministry of Economy and Trade

n.a.: not available

Table of contents

1. Mediterranean overview.....................................p.5

2. Market trends and opportunities.........................p.7

3. Foreign direct investments...............................p.13

4. Key players..................................................p.15

5. Recent national policies...............................p.19

6. Selected programmes and initiatives.................p.21

7. Major business events......................................p.23

.

© EuroMed@Change 2013 5

Mediterranean overview

An increased pressure which requires rapid

developments

Agri-food is one of the most strategic sectors in the

Mediterranean. The region is indeed facing a steady

rise in food needs as a direct consequence of the

rapid population growth and recent changes in

consumption patterns. If Turkey achieved a relative

self-sufficiency, the deficit continues to widen in the

other countries of the region (respectively 55% and

85% of food consumption was imported in 2011 in

Egypt and Lebanon for example), increasing their

dependence on volatile international markets. The

“Arab Spring” - which initially took the form of a

social unrest caused by a dramatic raise in food prices

- has highlighted the urgency of improving food

security as well as the necessity to achieve a more

integrated development of territories.

Stable investments trends

In light of the strong growth potential of

Mediterranean markets, foreign direct investment

(FDI) in agriculture and agro-industry has remained

relatively stable to date. 2011 was however a record

year, with major investments in Turkey (partial

acquisition of local brewer EFES by Britain’s SABMiller,

takeover of local alcoholic beverage producer Mey

Içki by TGP Capital) and large projects in Egypt

(Nestlé) and Morocco (Lesieur).

The sector is characterised by a predominance of

investments from multinational companies, mainly

European. Attracted by the size of the markets but

attached to their independence, the latter have so far

favoured traditional projects, either through the

establishment of local production facilities (dairy

products or biscuits in Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia and

Turkey for France’s Danone, fruits and vegetables in

Tunisia for Spain’s SanLucar, vegetal oil or sugar in

Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Turkey for Saudi Arabia’s

Savola, etc.) or through the take-over or the

acquisition of a controlling stake in local businesses

(Turkish confectionery brands Balaban and Dogan,

and leading Israeli firms Osem, Materna and Tivall for

Swiss Nestlé, Tunisia’s producer of vegetal oil and

margarine Gias Ingredient for German Dr. Oetker,

etc.).

However, the sector attracts more SMEs year after

year (+ 30% between 2010 and 2011) interested in

the opportunities presented by business partnerships

(commercial and technological). Last but not least,

the recent entry of investment funds into the market

(TGP Capital, Investcorp, APAX Partners, Riverside,

Global Emerging Markets, Actis, Capital trust)

highlights the strong potential for growth of the

sector.

FDI and partnership announcements in agri-food in the MED 10 countries (nb of projects, ANIMA-MIPO)

19

20

3834

2927

27

40

39

30

3 3 42

7

5 57

6 7

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Nb. of investments Nb of partnerships

FDI project announcements in the agri-food sector by MED country (total 2003-2012, ANIMA-MIPO)

84

65

40

3027

1621

10 63 1

TR MA EG TN AL IL SY JO LB LY PS

6 © EuroMed@Change 2013 6

Major assets and promising value chains to develop The Southern rim of the Mediterranean has important

strengths to shine in the agri-food sector, to start

with its excellent culinary reputation, Lebanon,

Morocco and Syria in the lead. The MED countries are

gradually increasing the value added of their agri-

food sectors by developing the processing industry

and packaging for export development. The recent

creation of agro-clusters (Morocco, Tunisia), including

laboratories and R&D centres, can support the

modernisation of production equipments and the

development of typical products (prickly pear, camel

milk, etc.). Finally, a number of niches with high

growth potential remain largely untapped. This is

notably the case of ingredients and processes

constituting the Mediterranean diet (horticulture,

vegetable oils, processed vegetables, dairy products,

aromatic and medicinal plants, etc.), of pre-cooked

meals or organic farming.

SOME USEFUL LINKS

Food Security in the Mediterranean: a major geostrategic issue (2010), IPEMED http://www.ipemed.coop/en/publications-r17/les-notes-

ipemed-c48/food-security-in-the-mediterranean-a-major-

geostrategic-issue-a183.html

Mediterra 2012: the Mediterranean diet for sustainable regional development (2012), CIHEAM - Presses de Sciences-Po http://www.ciheam.org/index.php/en/publications/medite

rra-2012

Mediterra 2010: Atlas of Mediterranean agriculture, food, fisheries and rural areas (2010), CIHEAM - Presses de Sciences-Po http://www.ciheam.org/index.php/en/publications/atlas-

mediterra

CIHEAM’s quarterly Watch Letters, devoted to major issues in Mediterranean food and agriculture http://www.ciheam.org/index.php/en/publications/watch-

letters

CIHEAM’s Briefing Notes http://www.ciheam.org/index.php/en/observatory/study-

and-monitoring/81-notes-dalerte

MORE USEFUL LINKS

CIHEAM’s Analytical Notes

http://www.ciheam.org/index.php/en/observatory/stu

dy-and-monitoring/analytical-notes

OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook

http://www.oecd.org/site/oecd-faoagriculturaloutlook/

Mediterranean Investment Map: sectoral guidebook

on public investment policies in the Mediterranean

(2010), ANIMA Investment Network

http://www.animaweb.org/uploads/bases/document/I

nv_MedInvestmentMap_ENG_Light_V2.pdf

Med opportunities: 25 niches markets in need of

investment (2009), ANIMA Investment Network

http://www.animaweb.org/uploads/bases/document/I

nv_25NicheOpportunities_ENWithCover_light_02-

2010.pdf

Overview of the agro-food sector in the Euro-

Mediterranean region (2005), ANIMA Investment

Network

http://www.animaweb.org/uploads/bases/document/

Agriculture_en.pdf

© EuroMed@Change 2013 7

Market trends and opportunities

A tremendous diversity, a growing demand

Considering the size of the country, the quantity and

variety of Lebanese agri-food products is impressive:

the climatic and geographic diversity of Lebanon have

granted the country different agro-ecosystems ranging

from semi-arid to humid. It therefore allows a large

number of resources to grow or flourish, from

temperate (grapes, fruits, cereals, etc.) to subtropical

crops (bananas, avocados, etc.). In a generally dry

region, Lebanon also benefits from a relatively

favourable position in terms of water resources and

rainfall: 40 major streams cross the country and rain

water reaches 661 mm on average per year.

The Lebanese market is expanding very fast: the

registered annual increase in agri-food products

demand is ranging from 5% for agricultural products

to 25-30% for bovine meat. Yet, the current local

production is not able to meet the demand: in 2012,

Lebanon was importing almost 85% of its food

consumption. The persistent dependence on imports

signals that the local market is far from being

saturated.

The increasing worldwide demand in agri-food

products also represents a major opportunity for

exports of local products. Endowed with a strategic

location between Europe and the Gulf, a variety of

food exports ranging from basic goods to finest food

wine and spirits, a climate that opens potential

markets for “out-of-season” fresh products, and a

global recognition in terms of quality and refinement

linked to the international reputation of the Lebanese

cuisine, the country has several strong cards to play.

The country’s relatively high production costs

(salaries, energy, transport), counterbalanced by the

quality of local resources and skills, suggest that the

country will find its most promising positioning as a

provider of high-end and upscale products for

Western (organic or out-of-season fruits, wine, nuts,

processed food) as much as for Arab and GCC

countries (chocolate, olive oil, juice, dairy products).

Agriculture and agro-industrial production in Lebanon

are based mainly on individual initiative under a liberal

and open economy. Little national regulation is

provided, although efforts have been made in the past

years to promote certification, boost exports and

enhance necessary infrastructures (irrigation,

agricultural roads, etc.). Consequently, the sector is

composed of a high percentage of family-owned and

small-scale establishments with a high concentration

of market share among a limited number of players:

the vast majority of local farming units possess less

than 1 ha, while 84% of food companies employ less

than 5 people. With an estimated 20-30% of the

population depending directly or indirectly on agri-

food, the development of the sector is of utmost

importance for the country’s wealth and stability.

LEBANON: KEY AGRICULTURE DATA

Cultivated land (source: Various)

Cultivable area 360,000 ha

Cultivated area 270,000 ha

Bekaa Valley 42%

Northern Lebanon 26%

Irrigated area 130,000 ha

Role in the economy (source: IDAL 2010, Eurostat 2009)

% of the GDP 4.7%

% of exports 4.2%

% of the workforce 6.2%

Production (source: IDAL 2010)

Total production value €1,3bn

Fruits 47%

Vegetables & other field crops 23%

Livestock Products 11%

Livestock 10%

Other 7%

Exports (source: Lebanese customs 2012)

Main exported products (share)

Fruits 60%

Potatoes 19%

Main destinations (share)

GCC (mainly KSA) 49%

Arab countries (mainly Syria) 42%

Other 9%

Farms & Workforce (source: MoA )

Number of farms (1999) 194,829

Women worker share 40%

People living of agriculture (est.) 20-30%

8 © EuroMed@Change 2013 8

Reviving agriculture: a challenging opportunity

One third of Lebanon’s land is cultivable, the highest

proportion of the Arab world. The geographic

diversity, from the Bekaa Valley to the Uplands or the

sea coast enables Lebanese farmers to grow a high

variety of products. The main agricultural productions

of Lebanon are fruits (mainly citrus, apples, grapes

and bananas), followed by tubers and vegetables.

Livestock has also been picking up in recent years,

with a meat production which has doubled since

1991. The country is today self-sufficient in poultry.

Despite the country’s potential and the fact that

agriculture is the direct source of income for a large

range of the population (20-30% according to the

Ministry of Agriculture), the sector still suffers from

decades of war destructions, under-investment, and

low government support (the budget of the MoA

represents less than 1% of the state expenditure).

The government therefore adopted a strategic plan in

2010 for the revival of the sector, with several

financial incentives, supported by international

donors, and new infrastructure projects managed by

the CDR.

Considering that the value per square meter is higher in Lebanon than in many nearby countries, the country can successfully position itself on up-scale fresh products. It is seeking to enlarge its “out-of-season” production and to introduce new valuable varieties of fruits such as kiwi, apple custard or truffles. High value fresh and processed

horticultural crops for domestic consumption and export are also an attractive segment offering profitable margins.

The organic market, though still a niche, has strong

growth potential. Local demand exists as illustrated

by the growing number of retailers and dedicated in-

shop organic corners in large supermarkets. Local

initiatives are developing, such as the Community

Support Agriculture Project. led by the American

University in Beirut. By encouraging consumers to

subscribe to a weekly basket of fresh products at a fix

price, the project guarantees a regular source of

revenue for farmers. However, the main driver of this

growth would have to found in an increasing

international demand: the sector is witnessing a 10%

and 20% growth in Europe and the United States

respectively, and the local production is not yet able

to meet the demand. France, though the second

largest wine-producing country, still imports 30% of

its organic wine to meet its domestic demand. IMC

Liban, the leading local certification body, recorded a

15% increase in organic certification in 2011, a

promising sign indicating that the opportunity is being

seized. Several projects and grants aimed at

supporting organic production in Lebanon have been

implemented by local or international actors in the

country since the mid 90s. Among others, three main

private initiatives are of particular interest. Following

a three-year project funded by USAID, the first

Lebanese cooperative for organic products has been

« Organic agriculture represents on average 1% of

worldwide cultivated lands, while in Lebanon it is

only 1‰: this single figure illustrates the huge potential for growth this segment has in Lebanon »

Mario Massoud, Biomass

are booming, and many foreign companies

attracted by the current reforms and planned

projects, are today entering the market”

Organic, 1402 ha, 59%

In conversion756 ha, 32%

Mixed,223 ha, 9%

IMC Liban ; 92%

Liban-Cert;8%

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Other

Fruits

Olives Vegetables Citrus Oilseeds Cereals Orne-

mental

Medicinal,

aromatics

*source ALOA, Presentation at the MOAN, 2010

LEBANON: ORGANIC MARKET

Organic production (total 240 ha)

Farm distribution (332) Organic certifications

LEBANON: ORGANIC MARKET

© EuroMed@Change 2013 9

created under the name of Biocoop Lubnan and its

Campagnia brand. The cooperative gave access to the

local and international market to around 160 farmers

spread in 61 villages. Unfortunately Biocoop Lubnan

stopped its activities in 2011. Second, Souk el

Tayyeb, the first local farmers’ market with an organic

corner created in 2004, has become so popular that it

has launched a spin-off restaurant and food festival.

Last but not least, the local organic product company

Biomass successfully developed its activities since its

creation and managed to complete a strong

investment partnership with French UNIBEL: the

French holding acquired in 2012 a strategic minority

stake in the Lebanese company to support the rapid

growth of its activities.

Agri-food, the country’s main industry

Agro-industry is the largest sub-segment of Lebanon’s

industrial sector: It generates 32.2% of the industrial

output and employs 20% of its workforce. The sector

shows good prospects: driven by an increasing local

consumption of manufactured products (+21% for

instance for processed food between 2009 and 2010),

the sector has registered a 8.9% growth since 2007.

Exports are also on the rise, growing at an average

annual rate of 7% since 2008, and this, despite the

turmoil in Syria, the country’s main client for agri-food

products.

Local investments are expanding, according to the

Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL),

thanks to an increasing global demand, the availability

of raw products as well as well-trained labour. Major

companies have established decades ago production

partnerships in the country, such as Heineken, General

Mills, Unilever, PepsiCo or Coca Cola. But some other

high-end segments still offer very promising

opportunities, at both local and international level.

Beverage, Wine, spirits & vinegar are definitely

one of them. With, by far, the largest share in

Lebanese exports (32.6%), the industry is propelled

forward by a thriving wine production. The

Lebanese wine is an export success: recognised at

global level with several international prizes awarded

at major wine fairs (Quebec’s Sélections Mondiales des

Vins; Bordeaux’ Vinalies Internationales, etc.), local

brands are being more and more distributed in

traditional wine-drinking countries (UK, France and the

US in the lead). Over 50% of the local production is

being exported, a percentage which can reach 90% for

small wineries. The sector expanded very fast, from 4

wineries in 1991, to 36 in 2012. The reputation of the

“big three” (Château Ksara, Kefraya and Musar) do not

shadow the quality of some other smaller productions,

such as El Ixir, partially bought in 2012 by the famous

businessman Carlos Ghosn, or the Domaine des

Tourelles, which was awarded 8 international medals

over the past five years. Acknowledging the growing

potential of the Lebanese wine business, the

government has formed in 2012, an inter-ministerial

“Wine Council”, in charge of establishing the long

BIOMASS: A FRIENDLY SERVICE THAT TURNS INTO A LEADING INDUSTRY

When the Massoud Family decided in 2007 to start a small organic egg production, to supply family and friends, they had no intention of setting up a business out of it. Six years later they are managing Biomass, the undisputed Lebanese organic food industry leader. With 60 employees, half a dozen suppliers in Europe and a network of 40 local farmers, Biomass is the main grower, producer and distributor of the local organic market.

“We have been growing at a 3 digits number trend a year”, states Mario Massoud, Commercial Director at Biomass, “with a strategy focused on both upgrading the quality and diversifying the local production”. Biomass today supplies the market with fruits & vegetables, eggs, olive oil, poultry meat, grains & pulses, and has set up in 2011 one of the only two Middle Eastern organic dairy factory. To achieve their objectives, the company had also to develop the whole organic value-chain, from production, processing and packaging, raising awareness among outsourcers on the specific need of the segment.

“Our market is both local and international: we are supplying the Gulf market with typical Lebanese products and out-of-season vegetables, and have recently broken into the European market”, details Mario.

This success has not escaped the attention of French UNIBEL, Holding company of Fromageries Bel the third global dairy leader in branded cheeses who has acquired 35.8% of Biomass in 2012 through a capital increase operation. “It was a perfect strategic match, we were looking to further develop our dairy industry, and they were looking to diversify onto the organic segment”.

Biomass has the ambition to become the regional organic product leader and to extend its markets and possibly its production facilities to other neighbouring countries.

10 © EuroMed@Change 2013

awaited Institute of Vine & Wine to regulate wineries’

operations, grape cultivation and to orchestrate

promotion campaigns.

Although not as well established as wine, the beer

industry is developing. The local per capita

consumption is estimated at 4-5 litres, and the

production reached 8.7 billion bottles in 2011. The

sector is dominated by long-standing Almaza brewery

(Almaza, Laziza & Amstel brands), in which Heineken

took a majority stake (79%) in 2002. A small brewery

entered the market in 2006 to break up the

company’s’ quasi-monopoly, with a “961”- branded

beer, which revealed itself a success, with foreseen

exports to the United States.

Olive oil exports are also expanding, despite a tough

regional competition from countries almost

exclusively turned towards the international market.

Olivetrade, an organic olive products brand has, for

instance, managed to tap international markets such

as France, United Kingdom, Kuwait, Canada or

Japan. Several projects aiming to sustain the industry

and raise the quality of its products are currently

being implemented through bilateral cooperation:

Spain is supporting producers in the South, while

Italy is helping establishing a national certification

laboratory specifically dedicated to olive oil.

Nuts and Confectionery production is another

promising market. According to Euro-monitor

International, confectionery and nuts consumption in

the Middle East was expected to grow by respectively

20% and 30% between 2010 and 2015. Thanks to a

specific local roasting technique, Lebanese nuts

have gained recognition on the international market

for their freshness and high quality, although most of

the raw material itself is grown abroad. Hamasni,

founded in 1880, is Lebanon’s oldest nut company,

and has been a training ground for most of the major

local businesses. Al Rifai’s success story is also a

good indication of the sector potential: the company,

which achieved of 50% turnover increase in 2011,

exports 50% of its production, has branches in most

GCC countries, Jordan and UK, and was partially

acquired by Qatar First Investment Bank in

September 2012 to support the extension of its

production and its access to new markets. Lebanese

chocolate has also managed to earn regional

recognition to the extent that countries such as Saudi

Arabia, Jordan or Egypt heavily consume Lebanese

products - despite their relatively high prices and

upscale positioning. Patchi’s worldwide success (145

outlets in 29 countries) indeed gave the industry a

push by increasing its popularity: the company which

invested in factories in Lebanon but also in Saudi

Arabia or Egypt is currently studying the opportunity

of going public, either on London or Dubai stock

exchange. Other brands, such as Souchet, Ethel or

Dandy also successfully serve the regional and

international market.

LEBANON: KEY AGRO-INDUSTRY DATA

Share in the economy (source: IDAL 2010)

% of the GDP 3%

% of exports 8.7%

% of the workforce 3%

% of industrial output 32.2%

% of industrial workforce 24.9% (20,607 p.)

% of industrial companies 18.2% (736 units)

Production structure (source: SILF2009; IDAL 2012)

Nb of units 4700

Nb of units (more than 4 employees) 716

Production (source: IDAL 2010)

Total production value €2.25bn

Dairy Products 67.9%

Bakery Products 30.2%

Geographical concentration

Mount Lebanon 34%

Bekaa 30%

North Lebanon 14%

South Lebanon 10%

Other (Beirut & Nabatiyeh) 8% & 4%

Exports (source: Lebanese customs 2012)

Main exported products (share)

Beverages, Spirits & Vinegar 32.2%

Fruits, Vegetables & Nuts 17.7%

Main destinations (share)

Arab countries 42%

GCC 24.2 %

Western Europe 6.6%

© EuroMed@Change 2013 11

Investment opportunities in irrigation

According to the CDR, agriculture consumes 64% of

the available water resources. The growing water

demand in the coming years will require a number of

infrastructure investments, such as the construction

of water storage facilities, dams and lakes, or the

rehabilitation and modernisation of surface and

ground water facilities. Rationalising and regulating

water consumption is also high on the agenda. A

government led pilot project has indeed highlighted

that the implementation of water-efficient agricultural

technologies would enable to save up to 50% of the

current consumption. The local market is still

untapped and a number of projects are planned by

the CDR, such as the construction of small- and

medium-size lakes in hilly areas (extension of an

IFAD-EU project), the rehabilitation of agricultural

roads (tender under preparation) or the continuation

of canal 800 project (tenders yet to come).

Up-coming infrastructure projects in Agriculture & irrigation (Source: CDR Progress report, Oct 2012)

INNOVATIVE HYDROPONIC SUNLESS FARMS

Food poisoning can have unexpectedly powerful effects when a serial entrepreneur is directly affected. Determined to grow cleaner products for his own consumption after having faced one of these quite common misadventures, Roy Debbas has ended up developing a new technology for the production of organic fruits, vegetables and herbs under a fully controlled climate environment.

Eco Industries is indeed a pioneer in hydroponic farming, with the introduction of full environment control through artificial lighting. “Hydroponic farming has tremendous advantages, especially in countries facing extreme weather or water and agricultural land scarcity: it allows a continuous all-year supply of fresh products, with limited water and land use. However current systems used in warehouses do not totally address the problems linked to climate changes and, in our region, to strong sunshine” explains Roy Debbas, its founder. By creating a totally isolated environment (production can even be done underground), Eco Industries can guarantee a 100% organic and pesticide-free products as well as a crop growth increased by 30% comparing to other hydroponic cultivation. Space saving is also a major asset as “the production of 2,000 lettuce a day only requires 100 sqm comparing to 6,000 sqm in traditional agriculture”.

Two years of researches in laboratory have been necessary to build the pilot “Hub”, designed to look like an eco-friendly chalet and grow the first batch of vegetables, which were well received by Lebanese consumers. Eco Industries is now starting to market its technology and already signed partnerships with two major companies from the Gulf. “Our expansion strategy relies on JV agreements, under which we bring the technology, manage the production and grant the product with our brand name” details Roy.

As a next phase Eco Industries is planning to supply its hubs with renewable energy installations, a necessary step to expand in markets with higher energy production costs.

© EuroMed@Change 2013 13

Foreign Direct Investments

A boom in niche agri-food markets in 2012 2012 has been a record year for foreign investment in

the agri-food sector in Lebanon: while only 1 FDI

project was detected by the ANIMA-MIPO

Observatory between 2003 and 2011, no less than 5

foreign investors declared investment plans in 2012.

All 5 projects were announced in sectors of

highvalue-added: confectionery, organic dairy

products and wine.

3 projects were led by Qatar First Investment Bank:

the group acquired a 35% stake in Al Rifai, a famous

nuts and speciality sweet company, enabling it to

invest in a coffee factory in Mkalles and 2 new stores

in Baabda and Naccache. Another FDI project was

announced by French company Bel, a global leader in

processed cheese, and the number one cheese

spread producer in France and the rest of Europe.

The manufacturer bought 35.8% of Biomass, a local

company established in 2009 which launched an

organic dairy factory in Qab Elias in 2011. Finally, the

French Lebanese Brazilian Chairman and CEO of

Renault-Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, invested in Ixsir, a

winery established at the end of 2008 and which

released its first wine in 2011 in Basbina, a

mountainous area above Batroun, North Lebanon.

The company aims at producing quality wine from six

different hilly vineyards in Jezzine, Niha, Kib Elias,

Deir El Ahmar, Ainata and Batroun.

A domestic market offering opportunities for foreign producers and retailers Lebanon imports a great diversity of food products,

which represent more than three quarters of its food

consumption. According to the Lebanese Customs

and Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade, the top

10 products imported in 2009 were live bovine

animals, cheese, meat, wheat, sugar, maize, food

preparations, milk powder, sheep and coffee.

Several commercial partnerships and distribution

agreements have hence been detected by the ANIMA

MIPO Observatory, especially in the field of high-end

and quality food items. Among the most recent deals,

Produit en Bretagne, a French business network

promoting made in Brittany products, inked a deal

with local supermarket chain Bou Khalil to sell its

products in Lebanon. The world leader in coffee

machines and coffee maker technology Nespresso

also opened two stores in the country over the past

years through its exclusive distributor in Lebanon

since 2000, the local company Dima.

Lebanon: FDI and partnership projects announce-

ments in the agri-food sector (ANIMA-MIPO)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

0

2

4

6

8

10

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Invested amounts (€m) Number of FDI projects

Number of partnerships

Lebanon: Main investors in the agri-food sector (in

number of FDI projects, ANIMA-MIPO)

3

1 1 1

0

1

2

3

4

Qatar Syria Brazil France

14 © EuroMed@Change 2013

FDI announcements in the agri-food sector in Lebanon (2003-2012, ANIMA-MIPO)

Selected partnership announcements in agri-food r in Lebanon (2003-2012, ANIMA-MIPO)

Investor Origin Date Type Project

Tabourian Syria 2005

JV, partial

acquisition The firm buys Sannine Mineral Water for 11.5 million USD

Carlos Ghosn Brazil 2012

JV, partial

acquisition

The businessman, current CEO of Renault-Nissan, to invest in Lebanese

winery El Ixir as a sleeping partner

Qatar First Investment

Bank Qatar 2012 Greenfield

Al Rifai, the nuts manufacturer partially-owned by the bank (35%), to

open a coffee factory in Mkalles and two retail outlets

Qatar First Investment

Bank Qatar 2012

JV, partial

acquisition

The investment bank to increase from 15 to 35% its stake in the

Lebanese nut producer Al Rifaï in order to support its high growth

Bel France 2012

JV, partial

acquisition

The cheese maker to acquire 35.8% of Biomass, a company

established in 2009 and producing organic fruits, vegetables, dairy

products and grains

Qatar First Investment

Bank Qatar 2012

JV, partial

acquisition

The investment bank to acquire 15% of the Lebanese nut producer Al

Rifaï International

Investor Origin Date Type Project

Habanos Cuba 2005

Commercial

partnership

Creation of a joint-venture with the Zeidan group to commercialise cigars

in Europe, Asia and Middle East

Arla Foods Denmark 2005

Commercial

partnership

Creation of a joint-venture to commercialise its products which local

production will be multiplied by 2 over the next 5 years

Nestlé

Switzerlan

d 2008

Franchise,

shop,

Nespresso, the group's famous coffee brand, to open a first boutique in

the Dbayé ABC mall in Beirut thanks to its local exclusive distributor Dima

Compagnie

Française de

Restauration France 2010

Franchise,

shop, etc.

Joel Robuchon's group to open its first Lebanese wine cellar in the new

Souks of Beirut through a franchise agreement with the local Fawaz

Holding

Nestlé

Switzerlan

d 2011

Franchise,

shop, etc.

The coffee brand of the group, Nespresso, to open a second boutique in

Beirut with the support of its exclusive distributor Dima

Produit en

Bretagne France 2012

Produit en

Bretagne

The Breton product brand to ink an agreement with local supermarket

chain Bou Khali to sell its products in Lebanon

Lebanon: FDI and partnership announcements in the agri-food sector (2003-2013, Source ANIMA-MIPO)

© EuroMed@Change 2013 15

Key players

Regulation

Regulation related to agri-food in Lebanon is shared

between four ministries. The Ministry of

Agriculture (MoA) is responsible for implementing

national strategies related to agriculture policies. It is

represented at local level by regional centres and

offices. The Ministry of Water and Energy (MEW),

is involved in defining Lebanon water strategy, and

consequently irrigation systems and projects. Agro-

industry is placed under the responsibility of the

Ministry of Industry, while export and import

regulation (including issues related to certification of

agri-food products) is managed by the Ministry of

Economy and Trade (MoET).

Federation and professional associations

Lebanon’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry are

also covering agriculture. They in fact gather the

large majority of agro-industrial companies as

registration is compulsory to be granted a distribution

licence. With dedicated departments, experts, and

laboratories, the Chambers are active in providing

support to professionals (training, accreditation, R&D

facilities) and interacting with government-related

institutions on governance issues (laws, regulations,

etc.). The federation of CCIAs has also set up an

agricultural committee to ensure national

coordination.

A number of specialised associations have also been

created to gather professionals from very specific

sub-segments of the agri-food sector (organic

products, olive, poultry, spirits, frozen meat, etc.).

However, most of these associations do not have

regular activities or extended visibility. Nevertheless,

some active organisations are making attempts to

gain an international outreach: it is the case of the

Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industries (SLFI), which

closely coordinates with IDAL’s AgriMAP programme

to attend international fair or of the Union Viticole du

Liban (UVL) who launched in website to promote

Lebanese wine at international level.

Certification

LIBNOR is the agency in charge of national standards.

As quality standards in Lebanon are still applied on

voluntary basis, most importers or organic food

producers have to request certification from public or

private certification bodies. Among them, LibanCert, a

certification body supported by Swiss cooperation and

IMC, an Italian body with a local subsidiary hold the

lion’s share in the field of organic production.

LibanCert has been the first Lebanese organic

inspection and certification body to be recognised in

2011 by the European Union (List of Organic

inspection and certification bodies operating in third

countries), while IMC’s certification, thanks to new

global agreement between IMC Bari and a number of

other national certification bodies is recognised in an

increasing number of countries.

Innovation players

A number of centres are leading researches related to

organic production, biotechnologies and other

agriculture related projects. The Lebanese

Agricultural Research Institute is also conducting

researches in several fields, through 8 experimental

stations spread across the territory. In terms of

innovation support, a project to establish an Agripole

in the Bekaa and support the incubation and growth

of agri-food SMEs has been announced, and then put

on hold. It is not excluded that it might be brought

back onto the agenda in the coming years.

Training

Lebanon can count on 8 agricultural schools, which

provide the sector with qualified workforce. The

country’s first agri-food vocational school, located in

the Bekaa (Qab Elias), has in addition opened its

doors to 1,000 students in 2013: supported by a €5m

grant from the EU, it will be supplied with advanced

laboratories and up-to-date food processing

equipments.

16 © EuroMed@Change 2013

Government & Governmental bodies

Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) The MoA is in charge of setting up and enforcing agricultural policies and strategies. It is represented by regional centres and offices in each region.

www.agriculture.gov.lb

Ministry of Industry (MoI) The MoI is in charge of setting up and enforcing the country’s industrial policies and strategies, including those targeting the agro-industrial sector.

www.industry.gov.lb

Ministry of Economy & Trade (MoET)

The MoET is in charge of enforcing the various laws and plays a critical role in import/export regulation. www.economy.gov.lb

Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR)

The CDR is in charge of planning the country’s economic infrastructure. It is involved in agriculture and water infrastructure. Several tenders were launched in the past years, and others are to come (irrigation, agricultural roads, dam construction, etc.).

www.cdr.gov.lb

Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL)

IDAL is Lebanon’s investment promotion agency, acting as a one-stop-shop for investors and providing incentives for the development of key sectors, including agriculture and agri-food. It also manages the Agri PLus and AgroMAP programmes to support agri-food exports.

www.idal.com.lb

Lebanese Observatory for Agricultural Development (L.O.A.D)

LOAD, a structure linked to the Ministry of Agriculture, compiles Information related to the agricultural and rural sector. It supports the formulation, follow-up, monitoring and evaluation of agricultural development programs and projects.

www.loadleb.org

Standards Institution (LIBNOR) LIBNOR is the authority issuing, publishing and amending national standards. www.libnor.org

Main Business Federations & Associations

Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (CCIAs)

Four regional Chambers cover the Lebanese territory: the CCIAs of Beirut & Mount Lebanon, Zahlé & Bekaa, Tripoli & Northern Lebanon, Saida & South Lebanon. Each Chamber has its own agricultural department, constituted of full time specialized experts or engineers. It provides services to agricultural stakeholders, mainly technical advice on production and marketing issues, preparation of bankable files, market access requirements and quality norms, contact details of importers and exporters of agricultural products.

www.ccib.org.lb

www.cciaz.org.lb

www.cciat.org.lb

www.ccias.org.lb

Agriculture Committee of CCI’s' Federation

Composed of the presidents, experts and members of the regional CCIAs, the federation’s committee ensure the coordination between regional CCIAs on national agricultural issues. It conducts promotional campaigns, trainings on key issues and takes part in the implementation of national projects.

www.cci-fed.org.lb

Association of Lebanese Industrialists

ALI is the main national association of manufacturing companies. www.ali.org.lb

Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industries (SLFI)

SLFI brings together 156 Lebanese agri-food industrialists. Its main missions are to strengthen the industry, raise production standards, establish cooperatives and execute projects in cooperation with local and international institutions.

www.slfi.org.lb

Syndicate of Agri-food Traders in Lebanon

The Syndicate gathers the major commodity traders in Lebanon. It has as a mission to liaise between agri-food traders and to improve information and regulations.

www.agrifood.org.lb

Union Viticole du Liban (UVL) The UVL was founded after Lebanon joined the Office International de la Vigne et du vin (OIV). The objective of the UVL is to consolidate and build on Lebanon’s image as a wine producing country.

www.winesfromlebanon.co.uk

© EuroMed@Change 2013 17

Other Lebanese sectoral syndicates

A number of professional associations targeting specific sub-segments have been created such as: the Bekaa Farmers' Syndicate, the Syndicate of Food Importers, the Syndicate of Poultry and Meat Traders, the Syndicate of Poultry Producers , Tthe Syndicate of inter-professional Lebanese olive oil producers (SILO), Tthe Syndicate of Exporters & Importers of Frozen Meat, Fish & Vegetables in Lebanon, the Syndicate of Spirits and Wine producers, the Syndicate of Importers of Foodstuff, consumers products and drinks, or the Association for Lebanese Organic Agriculture.

Innovation players (incubators, research centres, etc.)

Agricultural Research Institute (LARI)

LARI (government organisation under the Minister of Agriculture) conducts applied and basic scientific research for the development of agricultural in Lebanon with eight experimental stations. LARI’s current cooperative research projects include 1) Olive propagation 2) Cereal and grain legume development 3) Pasture and fodder 4) Barley development programme 5) Male sterile insect technology for biological control.

www.lari.gov.lb

Industrial Research Institute (IRI)

IRI is the national institution in charge of industrial research and scientific testing. It investigates and disseminates information about available raw materials, provides testing and analysis services, grant certificates. It also operates 11 laboratories, including a laboratory for grain, flour and bread research.

http://www.iri.org.lb

American University of Beirut – Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (AUB–FAFS)

The AUB is managing 2 research centres in the field of agriculture: the Agricultural Research and Education Center (AREC) and the Environmental and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU), with on-going research projects on crop selection, conservation and improvement, integrated pest management, food safety, etc.

www.aub.edu.lb/fafs

Berytech Berytech is the first technological pole in Lebanon. It promotes the creation and development of new start-ups and the growth of existing high potential businesses through incubation, business support, counselling and company hosting in a dynamic and vibrant environment.

www.berytech.org

South Business Innovation Centre (SouthBIC)

SouthBIC is a business development centre established in South Lebanon. It offers incubation services to start-ups and SMEs as well as exhibition facilities.

www.southbic.org

Business Incubator Center – Tripoli (BIAT)

BIAT is business development centre, established in North Lebanon, which offers incubation, training and support services for SMEs.

www.biatcenter.org

Other SME support organisations

Euro-Lebanese Centre for Industrial Modernisation (ELCIM)

ELCIM offers services and activities to support SME development, including issues related to quality management and certification.

www.elcim-lb.org

Kafalat Kafalat is a financial company with a public concern that assists SMEs to access commercial bank funding, by providing loan guarantees. It manages the CARD scheme, specifically dedicated to agricultural SMEs.

www.kafalat.com.lb

Useful directories ( private companies)

Certification bodies in Lebanon: www.standards.org/certification_bodies/country/category/lebanon

Lebanese olive oil companies www.lebaneseoliveoil.com/IndustryContacts.htm

SLFI members’ directory www.slfi.org.lb/members.asp

Agro services Companies www.lebweb.com/dir/lebanon-agriculture

IDAL’s list of Lebanese agricultural exporters

www.idal.com.lb/en/sectors_in_focus/agriculture

© EuroMed@Change 2013 19

Recent national policies

The 2010-2014 Plan and funding schemes

Agriculture in Lebanon has greatly suffered from war

destructions and years of low investments. The

budget of the Ministry of Agriculture has for a long

time accounted for less than 1% of the State

Expenditure, leading to vulnerable social conditions

and increased trade deficit. To address the issue, the

Ministry of Agriculture has launched in 2010, with the

financial support of international donors, a strategic

plan for the revival of the sector. The ministry’s

budget was doubled, 200 staffs were hired and 28

agricultural centres established across the country.

The plan also includes various funding scheme to

support production, access to finance and export

opportunities.

A production support funding scheme was

launched with a €10m budget by the MoA in 2010 to

increase cereal and vegetable production. In 2012,

another more important fund (€94m over 5 years)

has been set up to encourage fodder farming, with

objective of lowering livestock production costs and

up-scaling the quality of dairy products. A disaster

fund was also on the way in 2012 to provide

compensation to farmers suffering from losses caused

by natural disasters.

The Ministry negotiated advantageous loan conditions

(5% interest) with several banks to facilitate

farmers’ access to finance. The newly launched

(2013) CARD Scheme also allows Kafalat, the local

credit guarantee fund for SMEs, to increase the

percentage of guarantee it offers to farmers.

Supported by an €3.5m EU donation, the CARD

Scheme can now offer either small short-term loan

guarantees up to € 27,000 (Kafalat small agriculture)

or longer-term loan guarantees with extended grace

period for tree farming (Kafalat trees agriculture) at

an interest rate of 2% subsidised by the Central Bank.

The scheme is expected to benefit to 800 farmers in

the coming two years, and to 15 000 in the next 10

years.

Last but not least, the MoA has launched in 2011, in

partnership with IDAL, the Agri PLus programme, an

annual €15m export subsidy fund. Agri PLus

replaces and extends the former Export Plus

programme, with the objective of opening new

markets for Lebanese products: its targets, mainly

vegetable and fruit products, today include other

selected products such as olive oil, honey and

seedling. Besides subsidies, Agri PLus encourages

exporters to attend international exhibitions and to

improve quality, packaging and cooling standards.

The programme has contributed to increasing

agricultural exports by 8% in 2012, despite the Syrian

crisis.

Investments incentives for agri-food

Agriculture and agro-industry are among the priority

sectors of IDAL, the national investment promotion

agency, together with tourism, ICT and industry.

“Agri Plus has helped our company expand

its export to farther countries that we were

not able to reach alone. Also, it led us to

upgrade our post harvest processes and

invest in ISO 22000 and Global Gap. It

therefore generated significant

improvements in traceability and

structuring of our fresh product business.”

Sleiman Menassa,

General Manager, Debbane Freres

AGRI-FOOD FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

Production Cereal & vegetable fund, fodder fund, natural disaster fund (planned)

Access to finance

Negotiated interest rates, Kafalat CARD scheme (for agriculture and tree farming)

Investment IDAL’s IPZ (Investment Project per Zone) and PDC (Package Deal Contract) schemes

Export Agri Plus programme, AgroMAP programme, custom duty incentives

« The solar loan made a real difference for

Kypros and the SWH market in general. We

managed to multiply our turnover by three

the year it was launched »

Samar Akar Maalouf, Kypros

« The solar loan made a real difference for

Kypros and the SWH market in general. We

managed to multiply our turnover by three

the year it was launched »

Samar Akar Maalouf, Kypros

FURTHER READING

Agriculture Fact Book, 2012, IDAL

Agriculture Investment Incentives, 2013, IDAL

Agrofood Fact Book, 2012, IDAL

Agrofood Investment Incentives, 2013, IDAL

AgriPlus Programme : annual report 2012, 2012, IDAL

Agricultural Infrastructure Progress report, 2012, CDR

20 © EuroMed@Change 2013

IDAL offers incentives to investors in the agri-food

sector, which vary according to the region. It includes

income tax and project dividend tax reduction for up

to 10 years, 100% exemption from land registration

fees and 50% reduction on work and construction

permits. Several other incentives are in addition

provided by other entities, such as custom duty

reductions on selected products. More generally,

Lebanese farms are exempted from income tax, wages

on agricultural labour from payroll taxes and all

agricultural products from VAT.

Trade regulations and incentives

Lebanese, although still in the process of accession to

WTO, has signed several bilateral free trade

agreements (EU Association Agreement, EFTA, GAFTA,

etc.). In general, prices on imported goods are subject

to custom fees and a 10% VAT rate. However specific

incentives are applied to encourage agri-food trade:

Tariffs on agri-food items not available in Lebanon

(raw material, semi-finished products, etc.) have

been either abolished or vary from 5 to 20%;

Equipment and raw material imported for the

agricultural sector are subject to a 2% custom

duty only;

Agro-industrial companies benefit from a 50% tax

on tariff duties at export;

Machinery equipment, spare parts and building

material are subject to only 2% fees for setting up

new facilities.

Unlike some other countries in the region, labelling on

agri-food products do not have to be in Arabic and

there are no restrictions on imports of alcoholic

beverage or other non-halal products

Certification, a work in progress

Quality standards in Lebanon are still applied on

voluntary basis, although food safety is high on the

government’s agenda: the MoA has indeed recently

embarked, together with the FAO and the EU (Qualeb

III programme), on updating the legal and regulatory

framework to comply with international requirements

for food production, distribution, import, export and

seed use. It is also striving to control pesticide use, as

it announced in late 2012 that it was offering, as a

pilot programme, free test on chemical residues and

health certificates for exporters. Besides, the Syndicate

of Food Industries has signed in early 2013 a

cooperation protocol with MoET to support, train, and

qualify 20 foodstuff manufacturers to earn the quality

management system certificate ISO 22000.

CCIA FOOD QUALITY CENTRES

Lebanon’s Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture have established, with the support of USAID, Food Quality Centres to provide farmers and agro-industrialists with support in R&D and quality monitoring.

The CCIA of Zahlé and the Bekaa, covering the highest proportion of Lebanon’s cultivated land, is one of them: its food laboratory and pilot plant provide testing support for various food and agriculture industries, including microbiology researches and ISO certifications.

«We have been supporting in the past years some 50 companies in their R&D process » says Gloria Hanna, responsible for the Centre’s pilot plant. The latest one, a mushroom grower looking for other prospects than his usual fresh vegetable clients, developed with the centre’s experts and equipment a new packing and conservation technique (in jars), and is now setting-up his own production facility. “We supported him in developing the idea as well as the process and we provided him with samples he could test on the market. The product was very well received in Lebanon and the Gulf, so he decided to go on investing” specifies Gloria. The centre is now working on testing an organic apple chips product.

The centre, which employs 5 full time experts, also collaborates with university students on R&D subjects.

© EuroMed@Change 2013 21

Selected on-going programmes & initiatives

Acc

ess

to

fin

ance

Lebanon Industry Value Chain Development (LIVCD)

Period: 2013-2018

Budget: €27.2m

Funding: USAID

Target/Opportunities: Technical assistance and training

Lead executing agency: Development Alternatives

Objectives: Provide technical assistance and related resources, such as

technical equipment, grants and loans for value chain financing, in order

to increase the competitiveness of selected value chains, to expand the

number of SMEs that can compete in selected markets and to increase the

gross value of products and services in local and export markets.

Information: www.dai.com

Credit for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD Scheme) Period: 2013-on-going

Budget: €3.5m

Funding: European Union

Target/Opportunities: Access to finance for SMEs

Lead executing agency: Kafalat

Objectives: Offer small short-term loan guarantees up to 35,000 USD (Kafalat

small agriculture) and longer-term loan guarantees with extended grace period for

tree farming (Kafalat trees agriculture) at an interest rate of 2% subsidised by the

Central Bank.

Information: www.kafalat.com.lb

Mar

ket

op

po

rtu

nit

ies Hilly Areas Sustainable Agricultural Development (HASAD)

Period: 2009-2015

Budget: €28m

Funding: IFAD, OFID, Spanish Trust Fund, Lebanese Government

Lead executing agency: Ministry of Agriculture

Target/Opportunities: Market opportunities and contracts

Objectives: Improve agricultural productivity in hilly areas by

constructing small and medium size harvesting infrastructure (hilly lakes,

reservoirs, terracing, stone retaining walls, irrigation networks) and

provide technical support to farmers (production, quality control,

marketing).

Information: www.ifad.org

Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (ARDP) Period: 2011-2015

Budget €14m

Funding: European Union

Target/Opportunities: Technical assistance & market opportunities

Lead executing agency: Ministry of agriculture (MoA)

Objectives: Enhance the performance of Lebanese agriculture by improving four

main components : guidance , infrastructure (Contribution to the IFAD project for

the construction of medium-sized lakes, support irrigation networks, of forest

nurseries), access to finance (CARD Scheme), and additional equipment to the

ministry

Information: www.agriculture.gov.lb

22 © EuroMed@Change 2013

Tech

nic

al a

ssis

tan

ce &

tra

inin

g Developing Horticulture to Access Impactful Markets & F2F project

Period: 2010-2015

Budget: €22,5m

Funding: USAID

Target/Opportunities: Technical assistance and training

Lead executing agency: ACDI/VOCA

Objectives: Support horticultural production, by strengthening the

technical capacity of Lebanon’s agricultural value chain actors, increasing

access to markets and market information, and introducing cost-efficient

technology. A component of the F2F project is dedicated to enhancing the

competitiveness of the small ruminant livestock industry.

Information: www.acdivoca.org

Wataneh

Period: on-going

Budget: n.a.

Funding: various

Target/Opportunities: Technical assistance and training

Lead executing agency: Arcenciel

Objectives: Offer solutions for farmers and food processors through

upgrading of farming systems, extension services, machinery services,

training sessions, quality control, laboratory tests, tasting panels. A

distribution network has also been set-up.

Information: www.wataneh.org

.

Tech

nic

al a

ssis

tan

ce &

tra

inin

g LACTIMED – Promoting Mediterranean Dairy Products

Period: 2012-2015

Budget: €4.8m

Funding: European Union / other

Target/Opportunities: Technical assistance, training, networking, BtoB

Lead executing agency: ANIMA and 11 partners (including CCIAZ)

Objectives: Foster the production and distribution of typical and innovative

dairy products in the Mediterranean by organising local value chains,

supporting producers in their development projects and creating new

markets for their products.

Information: www.lactimed.eu

L’OLIO DEL LIBANO

Period: 2009-2013

Budget: € 3,3 m

Funding: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Target/Opportunities: Technical assistance and training

Lead executing agency: CIHEAM-IAMB, MoA

Objectives: Support olive growers in increasing the quantity and improving

the quality of olives and olive oil, provide solutions toenvironmental

problems caused by olive oil mills by-products, support agricultural

cooperatives and assist in marketing and promotion of the olive oil industry.

Information: www.oliolibano.net

© EuroMed@Change 2013 23

Major business events

Leb

anes

e e

ven

ts

HORECA

Sector: Hospitaliy, Food and Beverage Industry

Number of editions: 20 editions (since 1994)

Organiser: Hospitality Services

Type: Conferences, competitions and Exhibition

Services: HORECA is the largest exhibition for the hospitality industry in

Lebanon and the Middle East. Established in 1994, it is the annual

business-meeting place for the hospitality & food service industries.

2012 participation*: 12,000 participants from 11 countries and over

380 national and international exhibitors.

Next event: 9-12 April 2013, Beirut (BIEL)

Information: www.horecashow.com

THE GARDEN SHOW

Sector: Gardening & farming

Number of editions: 10 editions

Organiser: Hospitality Services

Type: Conference and Exhibition

Services: Event featuring garden display, landscaping, plants and flowers, gardening

tools and accessories, outdoor furniture and equipment, garden decoration, traditional

food product market, handicrafts, ecotourism.

Expected 2013 participation*: 250 exhibitors and gathering visitors from Lebanon,

Syria, Jordan, and other countries.

Next event: 28 May-1st June 2013, Beirut (Beirut Hippodrome)

Information: the-gardenshow.com/

Fore

ign

eve

nts

wit

h

Leb

anes

e r

ep

rese

nta

tio

ns ANUGA (Cologne, Germany)

Sector: Food & retail

Frequency: Every two years

Organiser: Koelnmesse GmbH

Focus: Anuga is among the largest world food fair

including for retail trade and food service and

catering.

2011 participation*: 155,000 trade visitors from

180 countries

Next event: 5-9 October 2013

Information: www.anuga.com

SIAL (Paris, France)

Sector: Food

Frequency: Every two years

Organiser: COMEXPOSIUM, SOPEXA

Focus: SIAL is among the world’s largest food

exhibition, with several dedicated sections, competitions

and parallel events.

2012 participation*: 150,258 visitors from 200

countries (21 exhibitors from Lebanon)

Next event: 9-23 October 2014

Information: www.sialparis.com

GULFOOD(Dubai, UAE)

Sector: Food

Frequency: Annual

Organiser: Dubai World Trade Centre

Focus: Gulfood is a major regional trade show

for the exporter seeking new markets in the

Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

2012 participation*: 4,200 exhibitors (65

exhibitors from Lebanon)

Next event: 23- 27 February 2014

Information: www.gulfood.com

*organisers’ data

This guide is a Doing business toolkit dedicated to clusters, SMEs, or entrepreneurs

interested in developing business partnerships in the Agri-food sector in Lebanon. It

provides an overview of the main opportunities available for the private sector, as well as

concrete and useful data to those interested to go further.

It has been prepared by ANIMA Investment Network under the EuroMed@Change Project,

a Preparatory Action initiated by the European Parliament and implemented by the

European Commission (DG Enterprise and Industry).

EuroMed@Change proposes new dynamics for SME and cluster internationalisation

between Europe and 4 targeted partner countries: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Lebanon. It

is managed by four organisations from across Europe (ANIMA Investment network as

Project leader, the European Business Innovation Centre Network, INNO AG and the

Fondation Sophia Antipolis as partners) and it coordinates with more than 45 associated

regional business, finance and innovation networks.