Finance Minister Yassin Jaber received, at the Ministry’s headquarters, a delegation from the Syndicate of Vegetable and Fruit Importers and Exporters in Lebanon, in the presence of his advisor for customs affairs, Brigadier General Abdel Muttaleb Al-Hinnawi. During the meeting, the reality of export operations and the difficulties facing the sector were discussed, in addition to ways to provide the necessary facilities to stimulate the movement of Lebanese agricultural exports.
Minister Jaber confirmed after the meeting that the government attaches great importance to promoting the export of agricultural production, especially after overcoming a number of obstacles that hindered the crossing of trucks, and activating procedures for checking their loads by operating customs scanners at the factory border point and in the ports.
Jaber explained that the delegation reviewed a number of demands and problems, the most prominent of which were financial dues dating back to previous years that exporters had not received from the “IDAL” organization, stressing that this file would be discussed and consulted internally to reach an appropriate settlement regarding it.
He added that the union also put forward a proposal to provide facilities or customs exemptions for the import of new trucks designated for export, especially refrigerated trucks, in light of the shortage of equipment equipped to ensure safe long-distance transportation, thus contributing to facilitating the access of Lebanese agricultural products to Arab and Gulf markets.
Jaber pointed out that granting any customs exemptions requires a decision from the Council of Ministers, pointing out that the union’s demands will be discussed with the Prime Minister and the relevant ministers in preparation for presenting the necessary ones to the governmental table.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister of Finance praised the efforts made by the Minister of Agriculture through his communications and regional tours to open new markets for Lebanese products, stressing the government’s full readiness to cooperate in everything that would support the agricultural sector and stimulate the export movement.
