The Ministry of Economy and Trade, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, announced the launch of “The National Trade Help Desk”, which is a digital platform aimed at supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Lebanon.
The launch ceremony witnessed the presence of the Minister of Economy and Trade, Dr. Amer Al-Bassat, the Canadian Ambassador to Lebanon and Syria, Gregory Galligan, and the representative of the United Nations Development Program in Lebanon, Blerta Aliko, in addition to representatives of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, and a number of experts and those interested in this field.
The Director General of the Ministry of Economy, Dr. Muhammad Abi Haider, gave a detailed presentation explaining how the platform works and the services it provides.
In his speech, Minister Al-Bassat stated that this initiative is “more than just a technical modernization,” stressing that the project represents “a structural modernization within a broader reform path.”
He also stressed the great importance played by small and medium enterprises, which constitute between 90 and 95% of private companies in Lebanon and provide job opportunities for nearly half of the workforce.
Al-Bassat pointed out that these institutions play a vital role in providing job opportunities, maintaining active markets, and encouraging innovation despite the challenges, explaining that many of these institutions face difficulties that go beyond simply obtaining financing, to also include administrative and procedural complexities, which the new platform seeks to address by providing easy and integrated information and support tools.
The launch of the National Trade Assistance Office comes in the context of government efforts to support the productive sector and enhance the ability of small and medium enterprises to withstand and prosper, in light of the economic crisis that Lebanon is going through. This launch also falls within a reform plan aimed at improving the business climate, facilitating access to information and commercial services, and consolidating partnerships with international organizations in order to support the local economy and raise the level of competitiveness of Lebanese institutions.
