Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received, in the government palace, Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani, in the presence of Counselor at the Chinese Embassy Zhang Chun and a number of members of the Chinese diplomatic mission, along with a delegation from a Chinese company specialized in developing the medical plants sector, and the head of the body regulating the cultivation of the cannabis plant in Lebanon, Danny Fadel.
The meeting discussed ways to develop the medicinal plants sector in Lebanon, especially through establishing specialized laboratories in cooperation with the Lebanese University, which opens the door to enhancing investment in this sector in accordance with modern scientific, medical and industrial standards.
After the meeting, Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani explained that the visit came with a Chinese company interested in growing cannabis and medical and industrial extracts related to medicinal plants, noting that the company specializes in modernizing laboratories and producing oils according to the highest standards for medical uses, in addition to uses related to cosmetics.
Hani pointed out that the company is “very large” and has branches in a number of countries, and it is showing interest in establishing a branch in Lebanon, which may constitute an opportunity to develop a promising sector that requires clear regulatory frameworks and advanced technical investments.
He pointed out that the role of the Ministry of Agriculture will be to facilitate the company’s work and link it with farmers and Lebanese companies, in cooperation with the authority regulating the cultivation of the cannabis plant in Lebanon, stressing that the company met yesterday with the President of the Lebanese University to discuss establishing a laboratory within the university in accordance with the highest international standards.
This research comes at a time when Lebanon seeks to activate productive sectors capable of attracting foreign investments and providing job opportunities, especially in the fields of modern agriculture, medicinal plants and related industries, provided that the success of this path remains linked to the state’s ability to regulate and monitor the sector and ensure its use within the required legal, medical and industrial frameworks.
In a separate meeting, Salam received MP Najat Aoun Saliba, the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Jesuit University, former Minister Marie-Claude Negm, the Executive Director of the Social and Economic Development Institute Rashad Rafi’, and Shukri Haddad.
After the meeting, Saliba announced that she called for the need to open the door to imports to cement companies, considering that it is not possible to continue to rely solely on what she described as “distorting the mountains” and the monopoly of cement prices that rise daily by 3 companies.
She pointed out that a report issued yesterday by the Engineers Unions in Beirut and Tripoli raised their voice regarding the significant increase in prices, stressing that opening the door to imports has become necessary to reduce monopoly and reduce the burdens on citizens and sectors related to construction and reconstruction.
Saliba added that the Prime Minister was “very responsive,” and informed the delegation that he would discuss the file with the relevant ministers, especially with Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mitri, who is following up on this file, indicating that the movements will continue in this direction.
The cement issue is gaining special importance in light of the increasing need for building materials, whether in restoration or reconstruction work or residential and development projects, while rising prices constitute an additional pressure factor on citizens, contractors and municipalities, amid increasing demands to break the monopoly and open the market to organized competition.
