Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIRUT741
2006-03-10 13:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
MGLE01: LEBANESE INDUSTRY LAUNCHES PROMOTIONAL
how-toVZCZCXRO4878 PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLZ RUEHMOS DE RUEHLB #0741 0691302 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 101302Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2456 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000741
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV LE
SUBJECT: MGLE01: LEBANESE INDUSTRY LAUNCHES PROMOTIONAL
CAMPAIGN
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000741
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV LE
SUBJECT: MGLE01: LEBANESE INDUSTRY LAUNCHES PROMOTIONAL
CAMPAIGN
1. On March 8, the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA)
in conjunction with Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel launched
a campaign to promote Lebanese industry. Bumper stickers,
billboards and a clever ad campaign aimed at Lebanese youth
will send this simple message to the Lebanese: "Love
Lebanon. Love its industry." Gemayel told the press, "The
Lebanese should be proud of local industry which is on the
same par with European and American counterparts." Fadi
Abboud, the President of LIA, told the press that promoting
Lebanese industry was "crucial" because Lebanon's economic
survival "depends on more job opportunities."
2. During a March 9 meeting, Abboud told Econoff that
Lebanese industry has an "historical problem" of being seen
as inferior to European and American industry. He said that
LIA is spending USD one million on a media campaign directed
by advertising agency IMPACT/BBDO to help change perceptions.
Abboud would like to see more GOL support of Lebanese
industry, particularly in helping to make exporting easier.
Despite exports that increased to USD 1.88 billion in 2005,
Lebanon's imports remain disproportionately higher at nearly
USD 9.34 billion. Abboud cited high energy costs and social
security costs as two production costs that are hurting
Lebanese producers. Abboud told Econoff that unfair
non-tariff barriers had hurt Lebanese industry in trade
accords with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Jordan. Abboud
said that Economy Minister Haddad's November 2005 promise "to
halve the costs of exporting" was not working, as indirect
shipping and transport fees paid towards a corrupt
bureaucracy made Lebanese products uncompetitive when they
left Lebanese ports.
FELTMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV LE
SUBJECT: MGLE01: LEBANESE INDUSTRY LAUNCHES PROMOTIONAL
CAMPAIGN
1. On March 8, the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA)
in conjunction with Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel launched
a campaign to promote Lebanese industry. Bumper stickers,
billboards and a clever ad campaign aimed at Lebanese youth
will send this simple message to the Lebanese: "Love
Lebanon. Love its industry." Gemayel told the press, "The
Lebanese should be proud of local industry which is on the
same par with European and American counterparts." Fadi
Abboud, the President of LIA, told the press that promoting
Lebanese industry was "crucial" because Lebanon's economic
survival "depends on more job opportunities."
2. During a March 9 meeting, Abboud told Econoff that
Lebanese industry has an "historical problem" of being seen
as inferior to European and American industry. He said that
LIA is spending USD one million on a media campaign directed
by advertising agency IMPACT/BBDO to help change perceptions.
Abboud would like to see more GOL support of Lebanese
industry, particularly in helping to make exporting easier.
Despite exports that increased to USD 1.88 billion in 2005,
Lebanon's imports remain disproportionately higher at nearly
USD 9.34 billion. Abboud cited high energy costs and social
security costs as two production costs that are hurting
Lebanese producers. Abboud told Econoff that unfair
non-tariff barriers had hurt Lebanese industry in trade
accords with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Jordan. Abboud
said that Economy Minister Haddad's November 2005 promise "to
halve the costs of exporting" was not working, as indirect
shipping and transport fees paid towards a corrupt
bureaucracy made Lebanese products uncompetitive when they
left Lebanese ports.
FELTMAN