NNA - The Italian Trade Agency Office in Beirut organized a 2-day mission of Italian companies to Lebanon dedicated to the energy and construction/infrastructure sectors, under the patronage of the Embassy of Italy, and in collaboration with the Italian Trade Associations ANIE (one of the major trade association members of Confindustria representing 1,300 companies in the electrical and electronics sector), ANCE (National Association of Building Constructors) and Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo (the association of Italian companies operating or interested in operating in Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East). 

The initiative falls within the actions undertaken by “Sistema Italia” towards the Land of the Cedars, in order to provide the best of the Italian offer in the above mentioned sectors. This event was prepared through an initial scouting mission and a webinar during which the prospects and opportunities deriving from the recent reforms of the electricity production and distribution system were illustrated to Italian companies.

The goal is to promote commercial and industrial collaboration, through the creation of joint ventures and industrial, technological and scientific partnerships, and to transfer know-how, between Italian and Lebanese companies in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

8 Italian companies and representatives of the aforementioned business Associations attended the event. More than 60 Lebanese companies participated in the workshop that was held in Beirut at the premises of the Italian Embassy, which constituted the mission’s core activity. And finally, more than 150 B2B meetings between companies and associations from the two countries were held as well on this occasion.

The mission, consists of two working days (June 12 and 13, 2023), and aims at presenting the Italian offer in the fields of energy technology and infrastructure.

The Italian Deputy Head of Mission, Roberta di Lecce, and ITA Beirut Office Director, Claudio Pasqualucci, opened the workshop and speeches by Dr. Vincenzo Ercole, Global Head of Infrastrucure (ANCE), Letizia Pizzi, head of Confindustria Assafrica e Mediterraneo (ANCE) and General Elia Obeid, President of the Association of Lebanese Constructors followed.

The program was enriched by a round table with Pierre Khoury, President of the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC), which allowed for an in-depth discussion of the topics already indicated in the webinar "Opportunities and critical issues of the energy sector in Lebanon" held earlier in April.

In her introductory speech, the Deputy Head of Mission, Roberta di Lecce, recalled how "the articulated partnership between Italy and Lebanon is deeply rooted in a long history of people-to-people contacts and exchanges, which have contributed to the strengthening of cultural, social and even economic ties between the two countries over the years. An ancient partnership, which today we want to update and develop, extending it to cooperation in the most innovative and technolgically avant-garde sectors, starting with that related to energy and ecological transition. As stated by Vice President Tajani during his mission to Lebanon last December, industrial collaborations capable of making the Lebanese economy more solid and sustainable are the key to consolidating bilateral relations."

Director Pasqualucci stressed at the end of the workshop how "the initiative was best coordinated together with the various actors of the Italian system present in Lebanon, with local counterparts and the Italian trade associations of the relevant sectors. The large presence of Lebanese companies, the high number of B2B meetings and the visits held these days bear witness to the strong attention that the country dedicates to the Italian technological offer, as demonstrated as well by the latest foreign trade data that see Italy regaining those predominant positions, especially in the field of technology supply. Thus, we trust that these days will allow Italian companies to better understand the country's situation as well as to seize the opportunities that the strong presence of Lebanese companies in neighboring countries could offer them." 

On Tuesday, 13 June, the mission’s program foresaw a busy schedule of meetings with Lebanese business counterparts, through which it was possible to get an overview of the opportunities and critical issues that the Lebanese market offers to foreign companies.

Meetings were held at the offices of institutional bodies, such as:
-    Lebitalia at the Lebanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
-    Lebanese Petroleum Administration
-    Social and Economic Council
-    Rockland Group
-    Lebanese Business Leaders Association (RDCL) 
-    Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA)

Trade between Italy and Lebanon continues to show a net balance in favor of Italy. In 2022, Italy ranked fourth, behind China, Turkey and Greece, and maintained its position of second European partner, with a share of almost 5% and an import value of US$ 46 million.

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