Ministers of Economy and Information Launch “Know Your Rights in Commerce and Industry” Guide

لبنان اليوم

During an official meeting, Minister Markos presented the Ministry of Economy with a guide entitled “Know Your Rights in Commerce and Industry,” which is a comprehensive and simplified collection of questions and answers aimed at educating citizens about their rights and providing them with practical models.

Initially, Minister Boustani welcomed Minister Markos to the Ministry of Economy and Trade, expressing his pleasure at this cooperation, and stressing that: “Our presence together today reflects a necessary governmental cooperation whose goal is one, which is to improve public service and enhance the citizen’s confidence in the state.”

He also expressed his gratitude to the “Justitia” team for their efforts in preparing this valuable guide, which provides a simplified and clear explanation of the most common questions related to trade and industry in Lebanon, and makes it easier for citizens and economic actors to access the required information easily and conveniently.

He also thanked: “His Excellency Minister Markos for his supervision and support of this work.”

He stressed that: “Transparency and clarification of information are not administrative details, but rather a fundamental step in the process of restoring confidence in the Lebanese economy. The consumer, the trader, and the industrialist need to know their rights and duties, and the responsibility falls on us in the state to provide this knowledge clearly.”

Boustani pointed out that this guide will be available in electronic format on the official website of the ministry: economy.gov.lb, in order to facilitate access to it for all interested parties, whether they are citizens, institutions, or entrepreneurs.

He added that: “This work serves a larger goal that the ministry is working on, which is to regulate the market, support fair competition, protect the consumer, and facilitate business. All of this can only be achieved when information is available, clear, and equal to all.”

At the end of his speech, Boustani reiterated his welcome to Minister Markos, stressing the continuation of cooperation between the Ministry of Economy and Trade and the Ministry of Information, in addition to various partners from the public and private sectors, in order to promote a culture of transparency and access to information, which contributes to serving the national economy and restoring citizens’ confidence in state institutions.

For his part, Minister Markos praised the role played by the Ministry of Information in educating citizens about their rights, especially since it: “Has become a source of interaction between people and ministries, starting with your guide in the municipality, passing through informing people of their rights in commerce and industry through the guide that was launched in the Ministry of Economy, with the series to be completed by launching two other guides in cooperation with the Ministries of Labor and Health, in a simplified manner that people understand easily.”

He explained that the information contained in these guides is derived from laws, court decisions, opinions of state advisory bodies, the Court of Accounts, the Shura Council, the Legislation and Consultations Authority, and other institutions concerned with protecting citizens’ rights.

Markos pointed out that: “The answers were compiled in a simplified framework and placed in the guide under the title Know Your Rights, or ABC of Your Rights, so that the citizen gets the answer to his question in a simplified manner.”

He gave examples of the information contained in the guide, such as the details necessary to establish a company, in addition to the required transactions and papers, the expected time to complete the procedures, and the path that any commercial institution takes when it is established, including patent for the industry or its registration as a commercial establishment, and the difference between companies and institutions, all in a simplified manner and according to tables designed specifically to serve citizens.

He announced that the guide is available in electronic version, in addition to free paper copies.

He stressed that the role of the Ministry of Information in informing citizens of their rights will continue through other steps, including clarifying their rights related to taxes.

In conclusion, Markos pointed out that the information will be continuously updated to keep pace with new laws and decisions, advisory opinions, and modern circulars, and representatives have been appointed by the Ministry and the Ministry of Economy to follow up on this matter.