|
|
|
|
|
||
| EVERY MONTH, COVERING REAL ESTATE, FINANCE, BUSINESS, AND ECONOMY | |
|
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
-
Page 8: Galaxy commercial and leisure
complex on the west side of Camille Chamoun Boulevard in Ain-El-Rumaneh.
-
Page 16: Tracing Achievements: Solidere
presents its accomplishments of the last 18 months.
- Page 36: MEA out of intensive care: MEA cleans its balance sheet - increases capital, wipes out debt - and reshapes the company with a new look, planes, training and computers. Healthy expectations.
-
Page 38: Leasing debuts: the country's
first two leasing companies.
-
Page 40: Merrill Lynch expanding: Major
expansion, staff increasing, seminars on investment in Lebanon, bond issue
worth $300million…
-
Page 42: Banque Audi showed a 52 percent
increase in profits. The 1996 figures were LL30.7 billion ($20.5 million), up
from LL20.1 billion ($13.4 million) in 1995.
-
Page 43: Trading ends on the Beirut Secondary
Market.
-
Page 46: British Mediterranean Airways and
British Airways officially announced that the two companies have agreed on
a franchise agreement effective March 30,1997.
-
Page 47: Mideast premiere of Planet Hollywood:
The first Planet Hollywood franchise in the Middle East.
-
Page 54: Made in Lebanon: The Association
of Lebanese Industrialists launching a new marketing campaign 'Buy made in
Lebanon'. The industrial sector revamping its infrastructure and retooling
itself to become an efficient exporter
-
Page 56: Second airport planned north of
Tripoli: President Mouawad airport will be expanded to handle chartered
flights, private jets, and is intended to become a major cargo hub.
-
Page 59: First February shopping festival.
-
Page 8: Al Kanater, a $10 million
ten-story super deluxe residential and commercial project on Bliss street.
-
Page 8: Murr Country Club in Mar Roukoz.
The club, planned to be the biggest and the least expensive of its kind, will
sell shares.
-
Page 11: Planned communities: A look at
the increasingly popular phenomenon of model towns, including shopping and
commercial malls, supermarkets, hotels, leisure and sport facilities, such as
Alita, Mzaar 2000, Meshref Club…
-
Page 33: The troubled United Bank of Lebanon
and Pakistan has merged with Banque de l'Essor Libanais, with the
new enterprise operating under the latter's name.
-
Page 34: Bank of Beirut goes public: BoB
becomes the third bank traded on the Beirut Stock Exchange.
-
Page 43: 700 investors convene in November:
Crans-Montana, a private Swiss foundation, which organizes international
investment forums, is to stage an international conference on investment in
Lebanon.
-
Page 46: Spinney's coming back: new $11
million supermarket in Dbayeh near ABC superstore
- Page 46: Baalbek festival reopened by Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, the first event since the war broke out in 1975.
-
Page 46: Holiday Inn returning to Beirut
in Verdun, the first venture of its kind to the Middle East.
-
Page 46: Lecico finds Finnish savior: A
Finnish-Lebanese joint-venture, registered in Holland, is in the pipeline
between the Finnish Group Metra Oy Ab's Sanitec bathroom porcelain unit and
Toufic Gharghour and his brothers, Lecico's majority shareholders.
- Page 46: Aishti acquires Noni: Tony Salameh Finance Holding (TSFH) said it has bought the Noni clothes company.
-
Page 47: The Golden Phoenix advertising award
went to Saatchi and Saatchi for a Sleep Comfort TV commercial.
-
Page 58: Australia and Lebanon sign trade
deal.
- Page 8: Tilal, a major residential and commercial development is nearly completed. The project is situated in the heart of Ashrafieh on
- Zahar street.
-
Page 17: The Atrium, a project signed by
Prime Estates in the heart of BCD on a 1,566m2 plot.
- Page 20: The emergence of shopping malls: The malls are in a noticeable success, developers, retailers and the public are realizing the convenience of having dozens of stores under one roof.
-
Page
25: Les Dunes, in one of
Beirut's most vibrant districts is getting close to completion. Dunes is a
multi-functional residential and commercial complex crowned by a Holiday Inn
hotel.
-
Page 39: Scotiabank (The Bank of Nova
Scotia) has reopened its doors
-
in
Lebanon.
-
Page 39: Litex Bank sold to a group of
investors that includes Nehme Tohme (Al-Mabani) and Mohammad Safadi.
-
Page 47: Audi will publish and update a -
Page in the Reuters financial
quotation system.
-
Page 51: CNN, the international news organization,
is reopening its regional office in Beirut after a 12-year absence.
-
Page 51: Sabena announced it will soon
resume flights to Beirut.
-
Page 51: Ogero selling MPT lines. This is
the first time that a government agency has marketed its services using private
sector methods.
-
Page 8: 571 properties removed from a historic
preservation list by the Ministry of Culture.
-
Page 16: 812 Tabaris retail and commercial
center opens in Ashrafieh, characterized by spacious floors and super deluxe
specifications.
- Page 18: Mkalles 2001, a large project, which will cost an estimate $12 million is owned by the Mahfoud Group, a family-run business.
- Page 20: Foreigners to be allowed to buy stock: Solidere is planning to remove restrictions that have so far prevented non-Arabs from owning shares in the company.
-
Page 21: Asseily building (The Capitol):
the Asseily building was for two decades the landmark of Riad El Solh Square.
It was also known as the Capitol. Rehabilitation work started in 1996 and is
expected to be completed next January.
-
Page 35: Bank Geagea was sold to the
Société Générale Libano-Européenne de Banque (SGLEB).
-
Page 40: Investment Banks have been
encouraged by the Central Bank. They are already offering several services.
-
Page 72: National employment office: First
labor market study since 25 years.
-
Page 9: Adma Residence: Forty apartments
and one villa form Adma Residence, a new project by Admabel.
- Page 17: Pine Grove: new project in Baabdat by Antoine and Gabriel Boules.
-
Page 19: Doha Hills, located 15 km south
of Beirut, is a project owned and being developed by United Investment Group
headed by Ahmad Ali Ahmad.
-
Page 20: Home mortgage insurance introduced by
North Insurance; loan insurance program directed towards banks, real estate
developers, and general real estate lenders.
-
Page 34: Lebanon Holdings; A $50 million
investment fund which will channel capital into the banking sector has been
successfully launched by Lebanon Invest and SBC Warburg Corporation.
-
Page 40: Allied Business Bank launches
Lebanon's first mutual fund worth $1 million, with at least two others
planned, offering a total capital of $7 million.
-
Page 49: New reservation system for MEA:
Sabre signed a deal with MEA to provide Lebanon's flag-carrier with automated
airline systems to improve its efficiency and passenger services.
-
Page 49: Insurance companies agreed a
proposal from a parliamentary committee to increase the minimum capital of
insurance companies to $1.5 million, and $3 million for foreign companies.
-
Page 49: Century Park Hotel in Kaslik
announces it has become a member of Supernational Levant hotels.
-
Page 10: BLOM buys Florida tower for $13
million.
-
Page 10: Siwar, a new chalet development
facing Rimal is a joint-venture between Pierre Bourgi and Jacques and Alfred
Matta, and Nabil Laham.
-
Page 10: Modular Housing sal is at the finishing
stage of developing Greenside resort in Ain Aar. The project is financed
by Banque Audi.
-
Page 19: Azarieh tower is undergoing
extensive renovation. The financing of the restoration work is financed by a
consortium of banks.
-
Page 37: Audi Bank is soon expected to
announce the acquisition of Orient Credit Bank for $12 million.
-
Page 40: Foreign banks: the renewed
presence of foreign banks is providing a confidence boost to the banking
sector.
-
Page 44: Why Bank Byblos is outperforming the
market. Byblos Bank is one of the country's most dynamic banks, combining
an aggressive marketing strategy with a strong focus on retail banking.
-
Page 48: Lufthansa flies in: Germany's
national airline Lufthansa announced it will resume flights to Beirut after 14
years.
-
Page 48: Laziza plans to rehabilitate its
brewery in Dora.
-
Page 48: Bonjus plans to open a new cheese
factory.
-
Page 48: Uniceramic won a contract to
rehabilitate 19 of 359 metro tunnels
-
in
Paris.
-
Page 48: Rotana Hotel is preparing to open Gefinor
Plaza, a 168-room hotel in Clemenceau.
-
Page 54: The furniture industry Throughout
the Middle East, the furniture industry is highly developed and Oriental-style
furniture and interior design are much in demand at international exhibitions
and trade fairs.
-
Page 76: Opportunities in the software
industry: the recent sale of a Lebanese-designed software package to
clients in the US was a milestone for the industry.
-
Page 10: Mtayleb Country Club; more than
780 of 1,500 shares have already been sold.
-
Page 10: Hermitage, an impressive and
elegant building in the Furn El Hayek area of Ashrafieh is in mid-construction.
-
Page 20: Souks of Beirut getting ready to
regain past glamor. The souks of Beirut are to re-open and by the year 1999
shops and entertainment outlets will again attract the public
-
Page 21: Residence du Parc, the first
block in downtown residential buildings to be restored since the end of the
war, is close to completion.
-
Page 22: Beirut's office space market is
making the transition to a new generation, as the completion of the
reconstruction in downtown draws to completion.
-
Page 33: AL Ittihad Al-Watani, Lebanon's
oldest insurance company has announced plans to float shares on the Beirut
stock market by the end of the year.
-
Page 33: BLF buys three Credit Lyonnais
branches; they are in Hamra,Dora, and Jounieh.
-
Page 34: Beirut's Over The Counter equity
market: the recent move by Fransabank to issue shares on the OTC market,
rather than the official stock exchange, prompted many investors to take a look
at this alternate trading venue.
-
Page 38: First financial derivative. The
first signs of healthy demand for a Lebanese pound based derivative are being
seen as an indication of the increasing maturity of the financial sector.
-
Page 45: McDonald's coming to Beirut:
McDonald's has reached an agreement with a Lebanese businessman to open a
number of restaurants in Beirut in late 1998.
-
Page 54: Bringing information technology
to ministerial departments. Reforming the public sector and 'rehabilitating'
the different offices of the government administration are the mandates,
according to Bechara Merhej, Minister of State of Administrative Reform.
-
Page 58: The evolution of the advertising
industry. The end of the war heralded a boom-time for the advertising
industry, and a fight for existing accounts - large and small.
-
Page 10: Ice skating rink: an Olympic ice
skating rink will be part of a leisure complex. International Center of
Entertainment signed a nine-year renewable lease.
-
Page 12: Choosing to invest in a ski chalet:
within an hour's drive of Beirut, Faraya and Ouyoun el Siman are two of the
most developed ski resorts.
-
Page 33: RYMCO to go public: RYMCO has
launched a private placement to sell a 40 percent stake in the company.
-
Page 33: Mediterranée to finance Phoenicia
Hotel and the
-
Vendôme Intercontinental.
-
Page 35: Byblos ties knot with BBC: the
two banks decided to merge once they obtain approval from the Central Bank.
-
Page 49: Rizk Group takes over General
Financiere du Liban (GFL) from Banque Pharaon et Chiha.
-
Page 52: How Lebanon's paper industry is
keeping ahead of the game Lebanese factories produce a range of products
and as more attention across the world switches to the importance of recycling,
the industry's importance is growing.
-
Page 58: Accessing the Internet from Lebanon
is getting easier with the arrival of a host of new projects.
-
Page 12: Heritage Homes: There is a
growing market for older properties which have been restored.
-
Page 16: Real estate brokers: Real estate
brokerage is a growing business with many new firms and a host of clients
looking to buy and sell.
-
Page 21: Art Deco building revived: lot
152, once known as the Hotel Imperial, is currently undergoing a series of
extensive renovations.
-
Page 33: Casino to list on BSE in 1999.
-
Page
33: Allied Business Bank has launched the country's second mutual
fund, worth $2 million, after receiving Central Bank approval.
-
Page 33: Financial Documentation Center:
Finance minister and French ambassador inaugurated the financial documentation
center at the Financial Training Institute.
-
Page 38: Return of the Phoenicia hotel.
After years of neglect and decline, work was finally launched $$$
-
Page 43: Clic follows Premiere: FTML
announced the launch of its new prepaid service Clic
-
Page 43: Lancaster Hotel opens in Raouche.
The new hotel, which is owned by the Royal Residence Group and managed by
Consult, is part of the internationally-recognized Tulip Group.
-
Page 43: V-sat telecommunication:
Isticharat BML Products and services is to launch V-SAT services in the new
year. The MPT also reportedly granted four local companies licenses to provide
V-SAT commercially.
-
Page 48: How Lebanon's publishing industry
is building on past success today, in the face of increasing challenges from
other regional centers, many Lebanese printing houses are investing in new
technology to stay ahead of the game.
-
Page 52: The drive by a growing number of Lebanese
companies to reach
-
Page 16: Auctions to be used as a
marketing tool Two Lebanese entrepreneurs have teamed-up to launch real estate
auctions in for the first time
-
Page 21: Penthouse project: a new project
combining prestigious apartments with quality offices and retail space is to be
built at the intersection of Avenue du Parc and Avenue des Français.
-
Page 28: BLOM's GDR market hits success
BLOM raised some $144 million through the launch of a Global Depository
Receipt, which rose 21 percent from its launch price of $33 to trade at $40
almost immediately.
-
Page 31: Lebanon's newly established ARK
Financial Group announced plans to set-up a real estate fund and acquire
three insurance companies only days after purchasing two small commercial
banks.
-
Page 33: Lebanon's banks: solid base for
the economy Lebanon is looking at its healthy, growing, financial sector to
provide drive for the country's economic recovery.
-
Page 38: Banque Audi is hungry for market
share. One of the most active banks since the end of the war, Audi was the
first local institution to issue debt on international markets.
-
Page 52: Net sales More and more Lebanese
products are being sold on the Internet as local business take advantage
of the new hi-tech shop window to sell their goods both in Lebanon and across
the world.
-
Page 8: ABC plans large Ashrafieh outlet.
-
Page 8: Verdun 732: a new office and
commercial center will soon start taking shape in the booming commercial area
of Verdun.
-
Page 8: International Medical Center
revealed its plans to start soon the building of a new $148.5 million hospital,
which will be located in the museum area.
-
Page 8: Dbaye towers: first phase to be
delivered next summer.
-
Page 18: Banking on downtown: Location,
space, and modern infrastructure are the key words Solidere is focusing on in
its efforts to make a success of the renewed downtown real estate market.
-
Page 19: Venice Center in downtown is
being returned to its initial glory. It is also known as the brick
building" on the corner of Foch and
-
Uruguay
Streets.
-
Page 29: Emirates Bank buys Bank of Beirut
shares. BoB completed a $22 million capital increase through a private
placement with Dubai Emirates Bank International acquiring up to 10 percent of
the bank.
-
Page 32: Bifis: Hopes are high for the
second annual money industry exhibition.
-
Page 36: Lebanon Invest Group: Pioneer
spirits leads the way. The tale of Lebanon Invest and how it is recharging
local business.
-
Page 45: MEA to operate Beirut Airport as
soon as construction works finish on the new terminal.
-
Page 45: SONY opens a marketing and distribution
center in Beirut.
-
Page 45: Cellis FTML has signed a roaming
agreement with US operator Omnipoint Communications, enabling subscribers to
use its roaming services in over 700 cities.
-
Page 45: The French-inspired Lebanese business
school Ecole Supérieure des Affaires (ESA) has launched a monetary and
financial institute (IMEF)
-
Page 76: A project to encourage milk
production through subsidies
-
was
launched by the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the IFAD.
-
Page 8: A new five-hotel in Hamra, Crowne
Plaza will open in Beirut by the first quarter of 2000.
-
Page 20: Banking in downtown: Looking
towards a renewed financial center in Beirut. The reborn downtown area will be
more than a financial center because it will provide a whole variety of office
space and residential units…
-
Page 21: Hiba Al Maarad: An early 1930s
building now owned and being restored by a company of the same name, which
itself is owned by the Widriss Group.
-
Page 31: Fidus to manage real estate IPO:
Lebanon Real Estate Company will soon list its shares on the BSE.
-
Page 31: Omani National Holding, a
financial group buys Banque de Credit Populaire at $14 million.
-
Page 39: VISA and PIN: Four large banks
have combined to launch a new debit card, BankerNet Visa Electron.
-
Page 52: The development of the local software
industry: some of the pioneering companies which may have started as
importers,
-
became
software developers offering to design, install, and maintain systems.
-
Page 56: Tour operators are upgrading their
gear, they are looking to increase their business wherever they can find a
market. Ones who have seen their business grow unregulated in the 80s have
opted for tougher measures and upgraded services.
-
Page 60: Banner ads: Billboards in cyberspace.
Facing ad on the Internet is generating interest and revenue. The integration
of the Internet into popular culture is also well underway.
-
Page 10: Tabaris: the leader and the
business hub of Beirut.
-
Page 22: Grand opening for BCD new hotels
starting year 2000.
-
Page 28: BLOM Q1 profits up 53.5 percent.
The first quarter figures maintain the trend of robust profits' growth
witnessed by BLOM in the recent years.
-
Page 28: BSE has approved the listing of
Byblos Bank C shares and the shares of Lebanon Holding.
-
Page 40: BOB on its way to the major
leagues. BOB is continuously strengthening staff technical skills to maintain
its competitive edge.
-
Page 48: Fahed store planned for Tripoli:
a new store is planned on a 10,000m2 recently-purchased site.
-
Page 48: ORT, Masri announce online credit:
an online credit rating and company informational system was launched at this
year's Bifis banking and finance conference by ORT, Masri and Associés, which
is compiling a database on Lebanese companies.
-
Page 10: Four Seasons deal finally inked:
the Four Seasons Hotel and an adjoining complex of luxury-apartment buildings
are the newest addition to tourism and residential projects in the BCD.
-
Page 26: How the completion of Solidere will
affect its surrounding. Suburbs immediately surrounding Solidere will
benefit most from their close close proximity to the new heart of Beirut,
through higher property values and increased commercial activity.
-
Page 33: Saudi Holland Bank opening in
Beirut. It will be the first bank expansion outside Saudi Arabia.
-
Page 47: Facelift for TMA: TMA has
announced it is to reopen its Far East routes to Bangkok and Tokyo along with a
new service to Shanghai.
-
Page 47: Hospitality giant IDARAT will
inaugurate the Albergo hotel in Tabaris and the Palm Beach Hotel in Mina El
Hosn.
-
Page 50: Growing demand for new cars raise
auto retailers profits. And the market is steadily growing.
-
Page 18: The return of the ministries to
downtown Beirut.
-
Page 19: Marina towers has issued 15
international design firms to bid for work on a residential and tourist complex
on parts of Lot 16 in downtown Beirut.
-
Page 28: ARK to acquire new bank: ARK
financial group has reached the final stages of a deal to acquire Litex Bank.
-
Page 31: Merrill Lynch launches a new
investment program for Lebanese investors. It allows Lebanese investors to
have access to a wide variety of offshore funds.
-
Page 49: Massaya: new wine launched,
produced in the Bekaa region, in association with French winemaker Laforest.
-
Page 70: Telephone network designed for
the next century business can now rely on a telecom infrastructure.
-
Page 11: Jeita Country Club: the largest
of its kind in the country.
-
Page 22: The opening of the Foch Allenby
district in downtown Beirut.
-
Page 30: Byblos gaining market share:
Byblos has announced a 68 percent increase in total income for the first half
of 1998.
-
Page 36: Trading made easy: Letters of
Credit. The immediate future will see a switch from employing a courier system
to process L/Cs, to using an electronic system.
-
Page 38: Casino du Liban: playing the game
is always less risky when you have a good set of cards. With that in mind, many
in the financial arena have labeled shares in Compagnie du Casino du Liban a
safe bet.
-
Page 47: Aishti expands into furniture with Aishti
Home Collection.
-
Page 47: Royal Plaza Hotel opens in
Raouche.
-
Page 65: LibanPost: The government has
signed an agreement with a group formed of Canada post Systems Management
Limited and ProFac Management Group to manage the postal services for 12 years.
-
Page 70: The revival of billboards. After
a brief ban in 1995, outdoor advertising is back with a new set of rules
governing the siting. Content has been left to good taste and self-censorship.
-
Page 24: Solidere: Ready for occupancy as
98 percent of infrastructure done.
-
Page 34: The formation of the United Bank of
Lebanon (UBL) from the merger of Al-Moughtareb Bank, Litex Bank, and
Unibank, is expected to be concluded in the next few weeks.
-
Page 34: Audi bought 34 branches of Nasr
Lebanese African Bank, which is currently in liquidation.
-
Page 58: US hotel chain Howard Johnson
announced the opening of its first hotel in Beirut in October 1998.
-
Page 58: MEA strikes deal with Air France:
MEA has signed an alliance with French airline Air France.
-
Page 61: Plan to launch local manufacture of Samsung
cars.
-
Page 80: International food chains with local
flavor: Franchising is a hot trend among entrepreneurs across the world,
and investors from the Middle East have become keen purchasers of area
development licenses to bring famous names to the Middle East.
-
Page 22: Smart offices: Developers
increasingly begin investing in 'intelligent buildings', controlled by a single
central computer.
-
Page 32: Lebanon Holding joins BSE junior
market.
-
Page
42: Shopping for an investment fund. There's a better place for that
extra money than keeping it at home in a box or even in a bank savings account.
-
Page 48: Takaya suites, the $6 million
project, to open in Ras Beirut.
-
Page 48: Medgulf Strikers has gained
ownership of the Arab Universal Insurance and Reinsurance Company, creating
reportedly the largest insurance group in Lebanon.
-
Page 70: The re-emergence of international
accounting firms in Beirut. Multinational companies are establishing on
every continent - with auditing firms following in their wake.
-
Page 78: The Daily Star goes regional with
International Herald Tribune. A joint newspaper is to be distributed in
Lebanon, as well as eleven other countries in the Middle East.
-
Page 9: The Beirut Port Authority has
responded positively to an appeal from the Beirut Traders Association by
drastically cutting rental prices on buildings in the free zone and open areas
of the port.
-
Page 10: The quest for luxury apartments.
Where to go for a million-dollar city apartment.
-
Page 32: Audi eyes expansion: plans to
expand aggressively in retail banking under a strategy to diversify its income,
adding 20 branches to its current 34 by the end of February.
-
Page 35: Byblos profits up 73 percent in
the first nine months of the year.
-
Page 35: ABC reshuffles stock: ABC has
increased its capital from LL711 million to LL17 billion.
-
Page 48: GM enters race for the Lebanese market: General
Motors Middle East has added Lebanon to its regional sales area, currently
covering the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Yemen.
-
Page 48: MEA goes to Teheran: Lebanon and
Iran have signed an agreement under which MEA will begin flights to Iran,
starting early 1999.
-
Page 62: Local craftsmen are a precious
source. Lebanese jewelers say Arab countries are one of the main export markets
alongside Europe, where some have large retail outlets.
-
Page 66: Using your computer and telephone to
access a new range of business services the improved telephone network
has paved the way for a score of services to help businesses and commercial
enterprises operate more efficiently.
-
Page 70: Export drive: how companies are
pushing to open overseas markets. The government, along with private companies
and trade organizations, is trying to find ways to promote and increase exports
through a number of innovative schemes.
-
Page 74: Shopping made easy: Browsing through
catalogs, discovering unique products, and finding out about bargains without
leaving the comfort of home can enhance busy lives.
-
Page 8: A Novotel Hotel will join the
growing list of new hotels.
-
Page 11: BritishBank has acquired the Alcazar
Hotel, located between the Saint Georges and Phoenicia hotels in Ain El
Mreisseh, to refurbish for its new headquarters.
-
Page 34: BoB said it signed a merger agreement
with Transorient Bank to form one of the top 10 retail banks in the country.
-
Page 46: Online financial services: with
more financial information is now available, providing real-time local and
international coverage. Worldwide financial instruments are at your fingertips.
-
Page 54: Radio tunes to Continental. US firm
Continental Electronics Corporation has signed a contract to supply
high-power radio equipment to upgrade Radio Lebanon's broadcasting
facilities.
-
Page 54: Unilever-Fattal joint venture:
Lever Fattal, will manage
-
the
facility.
-
Page 57: Howard Johnson International
announced the opening of a second hotel in Lebanon in Baabda-Hazmieh.
-
Page 81: Forum for industrial investment:
The Industrial Investment Forum for Lebanon will be held on February 2-3. It is
a workshop that deals specifically with industrial investment incentives.
-
Page 90: International style retailing has
arrived. Big budget ventures like Zara and Spinney's are the talk of the town.
-
Page 116: Noor ease into Customs: Customs
transactions will be made easier at Beirut Airport through by installing a
software program - NOOR - that allows transactions via the Internet.
-
Page 118: Trade relations with the US take a
positive turn after it is announced that a US trade office will
be opened in Beirut.
-
Page 8: Ashrafieh Medica Center: a new
building providing consulting room and office facilities to healthcare
professionals, is close
-
to
completion.
-
Page 11: Mouawad residential tower: A new
luxury building is near completion in Sursock street, Ashrafieh.
-
Page 11: Dutch firm wins contract by the
Ministry of Finance to modernize and computerize the national land
registry.
-
Page 26: Fransabank wins Universal:
Fransabank has acquired Universal Bank in a takeover estimated to be worth $10
million.
-
Page 54: The redevelopment of the hotel sector.
Now the majority opening in Beirut are internationally-managed chains or
franchises.
-
Page 87: Coastal environmental projects:
The European Union will be financing three environmental projects beginning in
1999 in cooperation with the UNDP.
-
Page 10: Sun City resort, the Ajaltoun
luxury complex, starts taking shape
-
Page 10: Beirut Hilton to be rebuilt: The
Beirut Hilton Hotel, in the Normandy area, is to be entirely rebuilt.
-
Page 13: Residential skyscraper in Rmeil:
Karam Tower 18-office and residential skyscraper in Ashrafieh.
-
Page 13: Second Mariott planned in the
suburbs of Beirut, in the Galaxy Commercial Center.
-
Page 18: Cinemas are now big businesses
and many developers are including a movie theater in new complexes to boost retail
business and add life to a new development.
-
Page 28: Société Générale Libano-Europeenne de
Banque (SGLEB) has acquired 51 percent of Fidus, with the option of
acquiring 16 percent of the local brokerage.
-
Page 28: The Arab Invesment Bank (AIB) has
begun operations in Beirut and intends to focus on property investment.
-
Page 28: SGLEB takes control of Jordan Bank:
SGLEB has acquired 51 percent of the privately owned Jordanian Bank Middle East
Investment.
-
Page 38: Two new issues on the BSE: Banque
Européenne pour le Moyen Orient (BEMO) and Société Nationale d'Assurances.
-
Page 46: La Maison du Café goes global, it
is planning to go international and offer worldwide franchises.
-
Page 47: Hariri to launch newspaper under title
said to be Sawt-Al-Ourouba.
-
Page 56: Intellectual Property Rights Law:
Parliament passed a law to protect intellectual property rights.
-
Page 64: Woman and man of the year:
Contest promotes the achievements of those Lebanese working to improve the
image of Lebanon, and who are generating work through what they do.
-
Page 87: Iraq to use Beirut Port as a gateway:
Using Port of Beirut as a route to bring imported goods into Iraq.
-
Page 16: Bye-bye to buying. Leasing land
for a new business cuts start-up costs by a packet.
-
Page 28: Fransabank announced the launch of a new
credit card: MasterCard Platinum, aimed at high net worth clients.
-
Page 40: Work is close to completion on a new Bou
Khalil supermarket in the Mkalles 2001 complex.
-
Page 43: After an absence of almost 25 years,
international hotel chain Holiday Inn has returned to Beirut in Dunes
complex in Verdun.
-
Page 43: The Bristol hotel signed a contract
with Starwood hotels and Resorts, owners of the Sheraton chain.
-
Page 60: Creative thinking: Universities
team up with industry on money- saving projects.
-
Page 8: Sam' Gate, a commercial and
leisure complex on Deek el Mehdi road, is expected to be finished by the end of
2001.
-
Page 12: More than 40,000 sale transactions
registered last year. Close to $3 billion worth of transactions were
recorded by the authorities, making it the single largest segment of the
economy.
-
Page 16: Foreign investors are back in the
market The return of the
-
big
spenders.
-
Page 51: Balma Hotel, a $28 million
project, expected in Raouche in June 2000.
-
Page 63: Arak for aspirins. What we buy, sell and
trade with the UK.
-
Page 76: Making a big splash: Tourist project
to be built in a 51,000m2 complex, with water slides and a wave pool at Mar
Roukoz.
-
Page 13: The Public Institution for Housing (PIH)
and the Association of Lebanese Banks sign low income housing protocol
to provide individuals on a monthly income of less than $2,000 with affordable
housing loans.
-
Page 37: National Bank of Canada opens first
Middle East branch in Beirut. Lebanon is the only country in the region
with the expertise and human infrastructure to be a gateway to the region, it
says.
-
Page 43: More foreign banks open their
doors. A new wave of foreign banks has swept into the country.
-
Page 52: Buying foreign mutual funds: A
growing number of local brokerages are offering access to international
investments that spread the load and cut the risk
-
Page 62: Sweet re-entry for Laziza by a
billboard wrestling match between the company and local brewer Almaza.
-
Page 65: New Promenade Hotel opens in
Zalka on a 3,200m2 plot.
-
Page 65: Mineral water firm Sannine
invests some $6.5 million to upgrade and expand its production facilities.
-
Page 87: Summer and millennium festivals
set to be an advert for what's best in the country. The events will allow
people to party in style, but they will also showcase local creativity,
technology, tourism resources and investment opportunities.
-
Page 11: Work is underway on Hopital du
Levant, which is due to be finished at the beginning of November 1999.
-
Page 12: Coming home. Buying your dream property
back in Lebanon. Being involved in the expatriate real estate market can
be complex and frustrating, but also rewarding.
-
Page 36: Saradar $12 million richer,
thanks to a 51 percent increase in profits over the previous year.
-
Page 38: Banks are branching out in a race
to find new customers. In a country where only 33 percent of the adult
population have a
-
bank
account, the top ten banks plan another 33 outlets in the next six months.
-
Page 44: Online trading: All you need is a
computer, access to the Internet, and a couple of thousand dollars, to begin
trading stocks online.
-
Page 50: Burger King released: The first
of ten planned Burger Kings will be opened in Dbayeh.
-
Page 70: Applying for a visa online: a
small but growing number of embassies in Lebanon are setting up home- Page s on
the Internet, allowing easier public access, and offering information on
business and trade opportunities.
-
Page 82: Netherlands introduces a scheme that
offers skilled professionals to local companies as free advisers to help
upgrade the skills of employees and undertake restructure.
-
Page 86: Interest from foreign corporations in
the local insurance companies is growing.
-
Page 106: The five-year plan: Parliament
to soon start deliberating the government's five-year fiscal adjustment plan.
-
Page 10: Aquapark, a water park to open in
Jbeil on Paradise beach.
-
Page 61: Planet Hollywood opens in Beirut.
-
Page 61: Assurances Générales de France (AGF)
has increased its stake in local insurer Société Nationale d'Assurance (SNA)
from 30 percent to 51 percent, giving it a controlling interest in the venture.
-
Page 78: One-stop export shop: Trade and
information center to open at Beirut Port. The country will have its first
'export house' permanent exhibition center in the Beirut Port Free Zone.
-
Page 12: Florida Beach in Al Heri the $12
million-Florida Beach is still in the excavation stage.
-
Page 36: JP Morgan has included Lebanon in
its new EMBI Global index - an emerging markets barometer to cover sovereign
and quasi- sovereign issuers.
-
Page 40: Banks and insurers team up to
offer lucrative pension plans.
-
Page 51: TMA opens new Gulf route with
regular flights to Doha, Qatar.
-
Page 51: Mega industrial park in Bekaa: a
$33million industrial park
-
will
be developed in the Bekaa valley in a drive to attract high-tech industries.
-
Page 70: Opportunities at Corniche millennium
party: A weeklong extravaganza is planned for the end of the year.
-
Page 74: Reviving the industrial sector:
The Ministry of Industry has now announced its intention to adopt a
comprehensive industrial development program.
-
Page 87: World Bank announced that it will
open an office in Lebanon and is willing to finance more public sector
projects.
-
Page 39: Retail banking: Banks take the
battle to cyberspace.
-
Page 45: First ten-year issue wins hearts of
foreign investors. The Ministry of Finance has launched two international
bonds to provide a juicy yield to attract edgy investors.
-
Page 51: MEA and TMA signed a cooperation
agreement with Syrian Arab Airlines, part of a wider memorandum of
understanding on rail, sea, and air transport inked by the two countries.
-
Page 53: Audi acquired insurance company
Libano-Arabe for $4 million.
-
Page 73: Joining the chain gang: Why hotels
sign up to franchising deals.
-
Page 103: The USAID said Lebanon is
included in a five-year $60 million plan focusing on rural development in poor
areas.
-
Page 8: Al Habtour to build Metropolitan Hotel
in Horsh Tabet.
-
Page 8: A $4.5 million deal was sealed
between the Libano-Arabe Insurance Company, which sold its building plot in the
BCD to the Association of Banks.
-
Page 18: Affordable Public Institute for Housing home
loans schemes set to boost real estate market.
-
Page 27: The Central Bank has approved the
takeover of local bank BCP Oriel by Intercontinental Bank of Lebanon (ICL).
-
Page 27: SGLEB has announced its acquisition
of 35 percent of Middle East Investment Bank, based in Jordan.
-
Page 64: Science for Business The role of the Industrial
Research Institute.
-
Page 8: Metn forest resort: A leisure
resort is planned on the Shbatieh main road in the Metn on a 55,000m2 plot.
-
Page 20: Credit Libanais sees earnings rise 70
percent over corresponding earnings for 1998.
-
Page 23: Jammal Trust Bank to open insurance
company. JTB will have 40 percent of Trust Insurance and Reinsurance.
-
Page 41: Credit Libanais e-commerces with Data
Management;
-
NetCommerce will have businesses from
Lebanon, Jordan and Syria on its internet site.
-
Page 56: Banking on technology: Banks'
first step towards checking accounts.
-
Page 95: Italy launches program of up to
$50 million to redevelop the South.
-
Page 99: An agreement has been signed between the
MPT, LibanPost and all rapid courier companies except for DHL to impose a new
tax on all courier companies.
-
Page 7: Planet Moon in Aley will be a
tourist complex featuring an astronomical observation tower and is expected to
cost $50 million.
-
Page 14: Downtown: Retailers begin to flow
back to the city center as downtown finally springs to life.
-
Page 32: BIFIS: Innovative ideas in
banking, loans and software for small and medium-sized companies.
-
Page 42: Inter-Continental at Mzaar 2000:
The Mzaar Inter-Continental Hotel constitutes the first venture by the
Inter-Continental chain in the management of winter tourism facilities in
Lebanon.
-
Page 42: Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc., a
US-based multinational engineering company, announced plans to establish its
regional headquarters
-
in
Beirut.
-
Page 42: One Stop Shop approved: The
Cabinet has approved a proposal for IDAL to establish a one-stop shop service
for investors.
-
Page 50: Lebanon set to take stake in global
satellite communication venture: Lebanon could soon be at the center of
major advances in global telecommunications. The MPT has signed up to make
Lebanon the regional base for a new international satellite telecommunications
organization.
-
Page 74: Multi-million dollar wish-list for
South: The government, along with international aid agencies and foreign
governments, has spent more than $1 million surveying the region, launching
pilot projects and producing plans.
-
Page 8: Faubourg du Musée, a $10 million
commercial center in Adlieh, is planned facing the Olivetti building.
-
Page 34: Audi prepares for convertible issue:
With a groundbreaking share buyback, a host of new branches and products -
including a foray into Internet banking - Audi Bank had a busy year in 1999.
-
Page 42: Holiday Inn re-opening soon on
Phoenicia street following a three- year rehabilitation.
-
Page 42: Construction deal approved for Movenpick
Hotel in Raouche.
-
Page 68: The Arab highway: Abandoned road
project back on track at a fraction of the cost.
-
Page 8: Batroun Village Club, a $5 million
project on a 120,000m2 hillside plot.
-
Page 8: Saida Country Club project, to be
built on a 120,000m2 plot in Koreii in Saida.
-
Page 16: Public contractors look to a revival
of the construction sector: After two years of disputes and uncertainty,
many contractors who participated in government public works are now finally
-
receiving
payment.
-
Page 27: Standard Chartered Bank of the UK
has acquired 89 percent of local Metropolitan Bank for $20 million.
-
Page 27: Bank of Beirut (BoB) has signed a
deal with Bahrain-based Arab Investment Corporation (AIC) to offer
lines of credit under the Islamic banking concept of Murabaha.
-
Page 32: Société des Grands Hotels Libanais
(SGHL) hopes the reopened Phoenicia will spur share performance.
-
Page 47: Al-Arabiya Lil-Iktissad: A
consortium of Lebanese and Arab investors has signed a deal to establish a
television station to broadcast business, financial and economic news to the
region.
-
Page 47: Media tax-free zone approved by
Cabinet draft law to create a tax- free zone aimed at attracting investment in
media sectors, such as information technology, advertising, cinema, radio and
theater.
-
Page 6: Pink Center: The $10 million
project will be a six-story pyramid shaped commercial center in Kaslik.
-
Page 6: IDAL revives Linord project to
develop the north Metn coast along the same lines as Solidere. The scheme is
looking for investors.
-
Page 27: Jordan's AL Ahli Bank has signed
an agreement to acquire 85 percent of Bank of Lebanon and Kuwait for $22
million.
-
Page 32: Lebanon Invest spreads its
wings to finance deals throughout the region. After recovering from the
loss-making blip of 1998, it is expected to record a profit of more than $1
million.
-
Page 45: Hizbullah's television station Al
Manar is planning to begin broadcasting via satellite, with new programs in
English and Hebrew.
-
Page 47: Abella subcontracted UAE company
Danata to provide 40 percent of passenger ground services at Beirut
airport.
-
Page 49: ISP Cyberia has bought Intracom,
a smaller rival.
-
Page 49: IDAL is trying a new tactic to
encourage foreign investment by putting together a list of potential projects
with their capital requirement and distribution to foreign investors.
-
Page 49: Future to launch Dubai-based youth TV
satellite station Zen.
-
Page 54: Today, the Tripoli port authority is
making progress with an ambitious $65 million redevelopment program, which
will open the port to larger vessels, provide more docks, and expand the free
zone.
-
Page 62: Growing market for computer
maintenance: An increasing number of companies can offer a technician at
the end of the phone, or speed an engineer to your office, to get your show
back on the road with the minimum of downtime.
-
Page 74: How IZI-Car broke into private
leasing: Plugging the gap between high desires and empty pockets.
-
Page 89: Exporters get free website ad: A
directory of Lebanese exporters and traders online located at the Ministry of
Industry's website.
-
Page 7: Consulting Clinics Beirut (CCB), a
$25 million health care facility is under construction on a 1,530m2 plot in the
Saifi area of Solidere.
-
Page 23: Internet network plan to link Arab
bourses to boost investor interest, in addition to reducing the investment
risk for traders.
-
Page 30: Kafalat: Cheap loans for small
companies that have limited access to subsidized loans for new projects and
expansion.
-
Page 61: Growth of the local Internet economy:
Internet use in Lebanon and the region is growing at a breath-taking rate.
-
Page 100: The EU signed an agreement with the
government for a 50 million euro grant that will be used to support
Lebanon's fiscal reform and economic recovery program.
-
Page 10: Sursock's grandeur: Cream of the
residential real estate market comes with charm, beauty, and a sizeable price
tag.
-
Page 23: Harvest guaranteed product:
Banque Audi has launched a capital guaranteed investment product with a
three-year maturity that provides exposure to international equity markets.
-
Page 23: Banque Saradar launched two new
products, which will guarantee a return either 90 percent or100 percent of
investment irrespective of the performance of the fund.
-
Page 27: The BSE committee approved the
application of Société Financière du Liban to become an authorized
broker on the Beirut bourse.
-
Page 28: Launching a branded credit card:
These 'affinity cards' benefit the organization and its members because a
proportion of the issuing fee, and often a tiny percentage of every
transaction, goes to charity or the association whose name is on the card.
-
Page 45: The first online auction site in
Lebanon, mazadi.com, is offering to bid, buy and sell items.
-
Page 74: Khadamat finds a niche delivering
the goods by making thousands of personal deliveries to individuals and
companies.
-
Page 94: Electricity ministers of the Five
Electricity Grid States, Syria, Jordan Egypt, Iraq and Turkey, signed an
agreement to include Lebanon as a member.
-
Page 11: The Public Institute for Housing,
Credit Libanais and Arez Real Estate Corporation have signed an agreement to
provide housing projects for low and medium-income earners.
-
Page 12: New broom in Broummana: Drive to
convert summer resort into year-round action.
-
Page 30: Continuous trading approved for BSE
as part of a plan to increase investor interest.
-
Page 33: Credit Libanais launches online
banking.
-
Page 49: Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide
has opened the Westin Royal Plaza Hotel in Beirut, the first of this brand in
the region.
-
Page 49: Netakeoff, the first internet
'incubator' in the Arab world, formally launched its operations in Beirut.
-
Page 69: The MPT has began working with local
institution Finance bank to raise up to $150 million for a private-sector
global satellite communication project. $$$
-
Page 88: Comfort in the South Rehabilitating
the liberated territories.
-
Page 27: Syria is to allow Lebanese banks to
begin operating in the country's free-trade zones. The law has already been
changed to allow the banks to begin trading.
-
Page 29: BLOM and Banque Audi are the best
banks in Lebanon according to international business magazine Euromoney.
-
Page 76: As part of its integrated program for
industrial development in Lebanon, UNIDO is developing a database for
Lebanese industry.
-
Page 27: Five Lebanese banks among the world's
top 1,000 banks by capital.
-
Page 31: SGLEB has acquired a 79 percent
stake in Inaash Bank.
-
Page 46: A new SIM card for cellular
telephones has been introduced by MINT, the largest mobile network in the
world, covering 240 GSM networks in 112 countries.
-
Page 46: Virgin Megastore to open in
downtown.
-
Page 54: Mineral water producers expand
markets: Lebanese spring water is exported to a number of countries, as
well as being a staple at home.
-
Page 71: Termium exhibition: Hi-tech moves
into high gear
-
Page 53: Preparations are underway to launch a
virtual Arab Open University (AOU).
- Page 75: Hotel rating revolution 'Stars for life' system to be abolished.
-
Page 95: ILO allocates $20 million to
emergency projects in South Lebanon following the evacuation of the occupied
zones.
-
Page 95: The EU has signed an agreement with the
Ministry of Economy and Trade to establish an IT center.
-
Page 29: ABN Amro Bank is studying the
launching of a Visa smart card in Lebanon, following its launch in the United
States at the end
-
of
September.
-
Page 31: Continuous trading launched on BSE,
which is expected to inject some life into the market.
-
Page 34: Bank customers double in a year:
Salary schemes and mass marketing drives pay dividends.
-
Page 47: The Association of Lebanese
Industrialists were handed the keys
-
to
a four-story building in the port designated as an export
-
promotion center.
-
Page 63: Indispensable Internet: The
Internet has become part of the furniture for many Lebanese homes and work
tools to rely on in local offices.
-
Page 66: Monoprix takes over Abela
supermarket in Ashrafieh.
-
Page 69: Lynx buys back 'grown-up' PSInet
Lebanon.
-
Page 85: Beijing gives $600,000 for
educational and IT related projects in South Lebanon, including School Net,
a network that connects schools across the country.
-
Page 9: Aishti bags three properties in BCD
with 6,200m2 selling area.
-
Page 27: Lebanon Invest board approves Audi
merger: $40 million full merger after part-ownership.
-
Page 43: Open skies policy to boost
passenger traffic. Restrictions of the number of foreign airlines operating
into BIA are to be lifted.
-
Page 43: TMA resumes flights to Iraq.
-
Page 45: Michigan's Oakland University is
counting on senior managers to enroll in an 18-month executive MBA program
it is establishing
-
in
Lebanon.
-
Page 45: LibanCell deal to recharge cards
at Audi ATM machines.
-
Page 54: Boom in wine sales abroad as
exporters add new markets. The domestic wine industry holds the top spot in the
country's alcohol exports by a wide margin.
-
Page 9: Marriott planning a resort. Marriott
Vacation Club International, part of the Marriott Hotel group, intends to
open at least one, possibly two, holiday resorts.
-
Page 24: ABB launches 'wedding joy loan'
scheme, aimed at couples aged 30 and above, to help them foot the wedding bill.
-
Page 27: SGLEB completes its buy-out of
brokerage firm Fidus.
-
Page 28: E-banking services set to
mushroom, especially as many local
-
banks
are now targeting the sizeable and lucrative Lebanese expat community.
-
Page 38: Liban Post and Western Union have
reached an agreement that allows people to transfer money to international
destinations using LibanPost's link to WU electronic money-transfer network.
-
Page 60: Entrepreneurial Training Foundation:
The not-for-profit organization raised $275,00 to establish a series of
training sessions round the country.
-
Page 79: The MPT declared that a four-phase
plan is being prepared to help improve the telecom sector in Lebanon.
-
Page 81: Total French aid to Lebanon in
2000 reached 606.2 million French francs ($84 million), of which 19 percent
were in the form of grants.
-
Page 83: Lebanon reached a preliminary agreement
with Iraq to resume pumping oil via the Kirkuk-Tripoli pipeline.
-
Page 87: Slashing red tape and Customs duties.
-
Page 33: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) announced
the launch of a cellular banking service in collaboration with LibanCell. Checking
accounts on the handset.
-
Page 46: Merger between Banque Audi and
Lebanon Invest sealed.
-
Page 53: Spinney's moves into Ashrafieh.
-
Page 54: The Swiss-based Nestlé totally
acquired Sohat.
-
Page 74: Rapid growth of hotels provide
markets for local manufacturers, from beds to bidets to bars of soap.
-
Page 81: FabFeb 2001: Shopping festival
held for the fifth year.
-
Page 90: MPT to introduce new services
allowing subscribers to receive their phone bill over the Internet.
-
Page 92: Number of visitors still on the
increase. Ministry says total number of visitors showed an increase of 10
percent.
-
Page 9: Five embassies to follow Japanese
lead to downtown.
-
Page 10: Developers see revival in apartment
market. The demand for apartments in Greater Beirut is beginning to
recover.
-
Page 26: FFA introduced online trading
facility, the first Lebanese institution to offer such a service.
-
Page 45: Ogero has concluded a deal with
Ericsson for the modernization of Ogero's network.
-
Page 48: MEA gets more bookings during Fab
Feb.
-
Page 67: How small and special industries can be
beautiful. The industrial sector has survived through thick and thin by
capitalizing on the few advantages it does have over regional competitors.
APRIL
2001
-
Page 40: Loyalty and store cards:
Retailers say issuing cards is good for business, increasing sales and raising
the profile of the brand or store.
-
Page 57: Baalbeck Concentrate Company and the
Swiss group Sidaja have signed a five-year contract for the construction of a factory
in Hermel and the purchase of its agriculture produce.
-
Page 59: LibanCell intends to begin experimenting
with the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).
-
Page 101: Steep rise in overseas trade
after slashing of Customs tariffs
-
last
November.
-
Page 103: NSSF directors approve cuts in
contributions.
-
Page 14: Downtown is on the up and up:
Summer set for an explosion of new businesses in the city center.
-
Page 30: Expatriates Housing Loan: Byblos
Bank is set to offer 15-year housing loans to expatriates to buy homes in
Lebanon.
-
Page 37: Bancassurance: The arrival of
bancassurance is seen by many today as a natural progression for institutions
seeking to expand.
-
Page 55: Megabookstore online for Arabic
reading www.netmegabookstore.com
-
Page 55: Cellis and LibanCell launch mobile
Internet access (GPRS).
-
Page 94: Polish airline resumes flights
after 25 years of absence.
-
Page 10: Middle East Capital Group negotiated a
contract with Solidere to build a $50 million residential building.
-
Page 18: New formula, more attractive to property
investors.
-
Page 28: ADIR insurance which was fully
owned by Byblos went into partnership with Assurance Banque Populaire, the
fifth largest group in France.
-
Page 40: Handing over the collection of the bills
is a growing industry.
-
Page 72: Business goes clubbing: If there
is one business that rides out the slow times, it has to be owning nightclub or
a bar.
-
Page 86: Slimline Tele-Liban takes to the
air again.
-
Page 33: Cellis net profits rise by 45
percent.
-
Page 33: Byblos buys whole of Wedge Bank.
-
Page 42: Great expectations: Bank stocks to
regain initial success.
-
Page 53: Orange Card regional insurance
scheme from the Arab Insurance Union.
-
Page 86: Port speeds up its network by 100
times with Cisco Systems.
-
Page 29: Credit Libanais to open up in
Montreal.
-
Page 31: Jordan National Bank merged its existing
branches in Lebanon with the Lebanon-Kuwait Bank to create Ahli
International Bank.
-
Page 43: The Canadian International Development
Agency provided a donation of $21,600 for the establishment of a crop-processing
center in Anjar.
-
Page 45: Cyberia announced the acquisition
of Data Exchange, one of the top ISPs in Jordan.
-
Page 85: Nour brings some light to Customs:
The clearance system Nour is the more advanced system of the Najm computerized
system adopted to speed up clearance of goods.
-
Page 13: Trinec, the local application service
provider, sets up shop in Jordan.
-
Page 20: Hotels go high-tech and
high-powered to fill their rooms.
-
Page 37: Businesses look to mailshots to target
customers. The secret to success is in the composition of the mailing lists.
-
Page 48: Uniceramic made 14 percent more
in the first half of 2001 than it did for the whole of last year.
-
Page 61: Buying and selling in cyberspace
with LebanonProjects, the first website dedicated solely to the promotion of
real estate.
-
Page 74: IDAL launches agricultural subsidy
scheme "Export Plus".
-
Page 15: USAID installs new municipal
technology to provide local authorities with computers.
-
Page 43: Medical coverage surge boosts
insurance; it's already the best- selling type of insurance policy in the
country.
-
Page 56: Citibank plans a second branch.
-
Page 58: $5 million Internet-based network to
allow brokers and investors of 11 countries to place online orders on 11
Arab bourses.
-
Page 62: Lebanon Invest inked an estimated
$12 million deal to replace outgoing Canadian Investor, SNC Lavalin, in
LibanPost.
-
Page 69: Work on a $75 million block of luxury
apartments in downtown is expected to be completed by the end of the year,
facing Starco center.
-
Page 12: New TV resumed broadcasting on
both terrestrial and satellite channels.
-
Page 24: Riad Salameh: Governor of the
Central Bank on the lira, the IMF, banks, interest rates, and the future of
Intra
-
Page 49: Mediterranée Group buys 90
percent of ABB.
-
Page 51: Fransabank buys United Bank of
Saudi Arabia.
-
Page 51: WAP banking from Credit Libanais
and Nokia.
-
Page 52: Blom Bank lists its GDR on the
BSE.
-
Page 66: Faraya: Real estate rising above
and beyond expectations.
-
Page 83: $100,000 grant for environmental
study from the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program
-
Page 83: EU extends $148 million in aid in
2000
-
Page 13: German $81,000 grant for
environmental project.
-
Page 13: LAU to become regional academy
for teaching advanced networking.
-
Page 45: Starting young: Business school for
kids
-
Page 47: Berytech: Recent inauguration at
the Saint Joseph University (USJ) marked a first for the Arab World. Its
mission is to encourage Lebanon's academics and executives to stay put.
-
Page 59: Banque Saradar bought the
Investment advisory firm The Investment House and merged its financial advisory
subsidiary.
-
Page 62: Banking evolution: Automated
transactions are on the rise
-
Page 71: Géant supermarket to open soon in
Dora.
-
Page 13: Elevator media: Placing ads in an
elevator has been brought to Beirut by Elevator Media. The company has already
signed up around 1,000 buildings in Beirut.
-
Page 16: Live Lebanon, February shopping
festival takes on new identity.
-
Page 26: Software companies take on the global
market: The energies and enterprises of the Lebanese software industry have
already produced a strong toehold in the worldwide market.
-
Page 40: CDR program benefits all: $3.6
billion pours in for development projects.
-
Page 42: Inconet and Data Management merged
to create the country's biggest ISP.
-
Page 54: Tallest bridge in the Middle East
opens: The 5.5km Sofar - Mdeirej section of the Arab highway, which
connects Beirut and Mount Lebanon to the Bekaa Valley and Syria has been
completed.
-
Page 68: VAT implementation starts in
February.
-
Page 11: Fiberlink Networks increased its capital
by LL1 billion.
-
Page 12: Orange card insurance system
implemented (offers unified auto insurance in Arab member countries).
-
Page 13: Center for Lebanese heritage at LAU
to preserve Lebanese culture at home and around the world.
-
Page 13: In cooperation with An Nahar, Sakhr
Software Co. recently launched Johaina online media service at
Johaina.ajeeb.com
-
Page 20: Sweet deal: Pocket money treats
are big business. $57 million worth of imports of confectionery and chocolate,
and $10 million in exports.
-
Page 28: Newsletters can make you the talk
of the town. Newsletters have moved beyond informing shareholders of the
financial state of play.
-
Page 38: BLOM makes $80 million in profit
at year end, a two percent increase over 2000.
-
Page 42: A wave of bank consolidations
looks set to continue the banking sector has witnessed heightened consolidation
activity involving many of the country's top banks.
-
Page 48: $40 million private hospital in
Tripoli set to begin in the middle of the year.
-
Page 50: Downtown deluge: Retailers rush
to set up shop.
-
Page 59: Real estate revolution Registries
computerized.
-
Page 66: Lebanon signs Euro-Med agreement.
-
Page 67: Online administrative assistance:
Online service that provides electronic information about official administrative
procedures www.informs.gov.lb
-
Page 68: Municipalities get computerized
with the USAID reform program.
-
Page 10: Ericsson/Cellis launch Mobile
Internet contest to prepare the market for Mobile Internet Applications
(Mi-Apps).
-
Page 10: SNA introduced MultiFund II, a
structured 100 percent guaranteed capital fund.
-
Page 11: More than 50 construction companies will
participate in two international construction fairs at the Baghdad
International Fair.
-
Page 11: 'Emerging technologies for emerging
countries' organized by the Massachussets Institute of Technology Arab
Alumni in Beirut.
-
Page 36: FATF to reverse blacklist decision:
Lebanon expected to be removed from blacklist of countries not cooperating to
combat money laundering.
-
Page 36: BLC raises capital by $100 million:
Banque Libanaise pour le Commerce decided to raise its capital by $100 million
from the present level of $13.3 million.
-
Page 39: Islamic banking law goes to
Parliament. Islamic banks have been seeking to gain access to the Lebanese
market for five years.
-
Page 46: Hospital project in Kernail:
Kamal Jumblatt Social Foundation initiated the construction of a $8 million
hospital in Metn El Aala.
-
Page 46: $106 million residential tower for
BCD: A 26-story, $106 million tower is planned next to the Phoenicia
Inter-Continental Hotel.
-
Page 47: $40 million private hospital in
Clemenceau: Construction on the corner of Clemenceau and Justinien streets
is set for this year.
-
Page 47: Technical vocational training center in
Fidar: $10 million project by the delegate of the Salesians of Don Bosco
from Italy for educational and vocational training programs for young people,
orphans, and those coming from poor families.
-
Page 48: Demand for office space is on the
rise: Developers proclaim that that the worst years of the real estate
market have gone.
-
Page 58: Cooperation agreement with Japan to
study water resources, something Lebanon has been pushing for since 1996.
-
Page 58: More new industrial companies:
The number established in 2001 constitutes an increase of 43 percent compared
to the previous year.
-
Page 60: Lebanese-Syrian partnership on
tourism: Renewal of an agreement signed three years ago to promote tourism
activities.
-
Page 60: EIB to finance infrastructure projects:
European Investment Bank is to offer soft loans to the CDR to help
infrastructure works.
-
Page 63: Economy ministry gets European
assistance: The ministry is to benefit from a European-packed program to
upgrade its Intellectual Property Department.
-
Page 63: Imports and Exports up: In 2001,
imports and exports increased by 17 percent and 25 percent respectively.
-
Page 70: Budget 2002: The government is
set for the delicate act of balancing its finances, following Parliament's
ratification of the budget.
-
Page
13: Austrian and Malaysian Airlines will reopen Beirut offices
-
Page
17: AMECO and SOFRACE to merge with UFA insurance
-
Page
19: Uniceramic obtains license to set up a sanitary product factory in
Syria
-
Page
19: Ciments de Sibline to increase its capital by $16.45 million.
-
Page
19: Tripoli-based pastry makers Abdel Rahman El Hallab goes regional by
opening an outlet in Dubai.
-
Page
19: Spinneys plans new supermarkets in Saida and Tripoli.
-
Page
50: Industry revolution: Modernization pays off with massive boost in
exports
-
Page
63: Shopping malls and retail outlets expand, especially downtown
-
Page
76: Credit Libanais opened a representative office in Montreal to tap
into large Lebanese expatriate community
-
Page
83: Revolution in new banking products
-
Page
105: AUT is constructing a new campus on a 20,000m2 plot on the
Beirut-Tripoli highway in Halat
-
Page
105: 30-floor tower, highest in Lebanon, to be built in BCD
-
Page
121: Lebanon is to develop a $10 million master plan for the management
of water resources, provided by Japan’s International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
-
Page
121: Lebanon, Syria and Jordan to build a railway connecting the three
countries
-
Page
123: $80 million allotted to develop 24 fishing ports and to
construct nine other harbors
-
Page
13: Life insurance premiums grow 12 percent in 2001 to reach $98 million
-
Page
13: Lebanon signs a $3.5 million three-year agreement with Microsoft to
provide public institutions with access to modern software
-
Page
13: Uniceramic raises its capital by $5.1 million to $21.5 million
-
Page
32: Advertising industry overhaul through international partnerships
-
Page
42: BLC Bank to add over $100 million to its capital
-
Page
52: $20 million new five star Sheraton Claridge hotel for Broummana
-
Page
52: Al-Habtoor Group to build Metropolitan City Center, an 84-suite
hotel project, in Sin El Fil
-
Page
52: $12 million for private villas in the South on a 100,000m2 plot at
Roueisseh- Deir el Kantar
-
Page
52: $150 million plan to modernize AUB
-
Page
55: Sports et Loisirs develops a $3 million building in BCD
-
Page
59: Real estate revival: sector began to witness signs of picking up
-
Page
75: A 70 million cubic meter dam is to be built on the Al-Kabeer river
-
Page
10: Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal acquires ten percent stake in the
newspaper An Nahar
-
Page
13: Industrial Modernization Program, new EU initiative focuses on small
and medium sized enterprises
-
Page
34: Number of private higher education institutes has almost doubles in
three years
-
Page
40: Banque Audi to increase its capital by $100 million
-
Page
43: Bank of Beirut and Beirut Riyad Bank complete merger procedures
-
Page
43: Credit Bancaire announces the acquisition of Credit Lyonnais
Liban (CLL)
-
Page
49: Credit Libanais introduces TV Banking
-
Page
54: $15 million project by Jamil Ibrahim Est. is under way in Ramlet El
Baida
-
Page
67: VAT results beat expectations
-
Page
11: Khoury Home Appliances opens its 4,000m2 megastore with an
investment of $3 million in Dora
-
Page
13: LBC Sat and Al-Hayat newspaper agree to merge news services
-
Page
48: The Bank of Beirut and the Arab World to build new headquarters in
BCD for $16 million
-
Page
48: Saradar Investment House will launch Eagle One, a $15 million
real estate investment company (REIT)
-
Page
71: French assistance from INSEE will aid assessment of GDP
-
Page
10: InfoPro announced agreement to purchase Campus, a magazine
for university students
-
Page
10: The Central Bank chooses Hewlett Packard’s financial industry division to
conduct a feasibility study for the SeBIL Project.
-
Page
43: www.automarket.com.lb, now
a major Lebanese website that enables surfers to buy and sell cars online
-
Page
56: Solidere’s eastern marina opens with facilities for 120 boats
-
Page
56: A $19 million luxury residential project – Park Avenue – to be built
on a 908m2 plot in BCD
-
Page
56: Al Mashrek Insurance and Reinsurance building $5 million
headquarters in Saifi area of BCD
-
Page
60: Gulf investment in real estate: Saudis top, then Kuwaitis, Emiratis,
Qataris and Bahrainis.
-
Page
15: Cooperation protocol between IDAL and TMA to reduce transport
charges by 50 percent on agricultural exports
-
Page
15: ISP Cyberia merges with four Saudi companies to create one of the
biggest ISPs in the region
-
Page
15: Roadster / Zaatar W Zeit expands, .opens second outlet in Jal el Dib
-
Page
15: Export exhibit center opens at the Port of Beirut
-
Page
35: Lebanese food chains expanding across the Middle East
-
Page
43: For the ninth year, Termium is to be bigger than ever
- Page 10: Heineken Corporation to acquire additional 669 percent of Almaza brewery
-
Page
13: Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal negotiating to buy big share of MTV
-
Page
31: Haute Couture, local designers hit Paris catwalks: Robert Abi Nader,
Zuhair Mrad, George Chakra & Georges Hobeika join Saab in showcasing
collections in Paris
-
Page
48: Kafalat loans to small and medium sized companies total $87.7
million
-
Page 62: International Financial Advisors (IFA) to buy $26 million worth of
shares in the Four Seasons Beirut Hotel
-
Page 62: The Sainte Famille Maronite sisters finance construction of Institut
Supérieur des Sciences Paramédicales, a $3 million technical school in Batroun
-
Page
63: A $180 million five star hotel and chalet scheduled for construction
in Khaldeh
-
Page
13: PCA technology zone with TMA to create a 1,200m2
technology free-zone at Beirut International Airport (BIA)
-
Page
13: Laziza expands range of non-alcoholic malt beverages
-
Page
13: Six software companies – Anzima, Istisharat, Astrolabe, BIG, Unilog, and
CDC technologies form Association of Software Industy (ALSI)
-
Page
24: Luxury hotels are growing in numbers
-
Page
37: Businesses discover potential of customer relationship management (CRM)
-
Page
43: Byblos Bank to acquire the local branches of ABN-Amro Bank in
a $20 million deal
-
Page
46: Customer credit: Storeowners and dealers are passing customer credit
to specialist consumer finance organizations and banks
-
Page
55: Cosmaline invests $4.7 million in its factory in Nahr Ibrahim
-
Page
55: Kuwaiti investors to build $55 million hotel in Raouche
-
Page
58: Drive-by shopping; the northern highway is attracting retail giants
-
Page
12: Investcom, the telecom group, acquires Lebanon Invest’s share in
LibanPost
-
Page
13: Midware Data Systems appointed prime contractor on $500,000 project to
digitize maps, archives and documents of the Litani River Authority
-
Page
13: Coca-Cola expands product range with the launch of Sunfill
-
Page
19: Tourism expands with
group packages
-
Page
48: Bank assets register $519 million annual increase
-
Page
50: Preferred shares; an increasingly attractive option for both banks
and investors.
-
Page
60: Haret El Sitt Park. Al Habtoor Properties plans to develop a $25
million recreational tourist park in Baabda
-
Page
60: Landmark appointed local Millenium Development as consultants for
$52.5 million compound in BCD
-
Page
68: New construction code: Stricter regulation and international
standards of inspection
-
Page
69: Master Plan, CDR study to set guidelines for the use of resources
and economic strategy over the next 20 to 30 years
-
Page
75: A French company, Suez/Ondo, wins bid to operate Tripoli’s water
department
-
Page
78: The Ministry of Finance announces computerized tax-collection system for
income tax
-
Page
80: Paris II bolstered confidence in the country’s ability to carry out
serious reforms
-
Page
10: Memac Ogilvy and Inter-Regies join forces to become one of
the region’s largest advertising agencies.
-
Page
10: The Professional Computer Association (PCA) and the Association for
Development of Informatics and Law in Lebanon (ADIL) sign a cooperation
protocol to develop the IT sector
-
Page
13: Kuwaiti based Al Wazzan group plans to set up a Ford car dealership
-
Page
15: Health Clubs, a growing business in leisure: health
-
Page
25: Compulsory third party car insurance
-
Page
31: Wall-branding takes over Beirut.
-
Page
42: Islamic banking law approved
-
Page
56: US embassy to provide visas at a $2.2 million consular services building
-
Page
56: Hamra and Monot streets are undergoing renovation thanks to a $3.8
million project financed by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.
-
Page
73: The CDR signs cooperation agreement with the Islamic Development
Bank (IDB) to finance two new infrastructure projects
-
Page 12: Two of the
world’s leading computer technology firms – Intel and Computer Associates (CA)
– are to set up regional offices in Beirut.
-
Page 13: International
Trust Insurance announces plans to merge with Al-Fajr Insurance and
Reinsurance.
-
Page 15: A new EU
initiative introduces students to the world of business
-
Page 16: Deodorants
have seen export figures double over the last two years
-
Page 20: Carbonated
drinks shake up the soft beverages market
-
Page 24: February
Shopping Festival, organized by the Beirut Traders Association
-
Page 40: Lebanese
Canadian Bank posts a 53 percent rise in net income
-
Page 40: Fidus granted
exclusive rights to sell a wide range of asset management funds in
Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Cyprus
-
Page 52: A $4 million
school named College Notre Dame de Balamand is planned in Koura
-
Page 60: CDR launches Beirut
Services Upgrading Plan to overhaul roads and drainage infrastructure
-
Page 68: Initiative by
the CAS and the MOET to furnish accurate GDP figures
-
Page
15: E-Arope will allow policy purchase or renewal online
-
Page
19: Major benchmarking project, jointly run by AUB’s Center for Business
Excellence and the Association of Businessmen (RDCL)
-
Page
20: GIS solutions has not only overhauled the mail delivery system, it
has been effectively taken up by major companies
-
Page
25: Call centers
-
Page
42: First National Bank (FNB) acquires Société Bancaire du Liban
-
Page
51: Solidere requires developers of key-sites to employ world-renowned
architects
-
Page
65: CDR and the World Bank launch $30 million community aid to
improve living conditions in poorest villages
-
Page
67: Lebanon signs $12.9 million deal with Ukrainian State Company to build a
pipeline to pump Syrian natural gas to the Beddawi power plant
-
Page
10: Kababji opens restaurant near Sassine Square, Ashrafieh
-
Page
10: Monoprix will soon open in the Crowne Plaza in Hamra
-
Page
11: Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo, the first SUVs produced by Porsche
-
Page
15: Exports get sophisticated, Jewelry and software lead the way
-
Page
38: Byblos Bank is to expand into Africa, with a Byblos Bank Sudan branch
in Khartoum.
-
Page
38: Bank of Beirut opens office in Limassol, Cyprus
-
Page
50: A $20 million airport complex for private planes and charter flights
is scheduled to open in July
-
Page
50: The US Trade & Development Agency (USTDA) gives Solidere a
$450,000 grant to finance a feasibility study of the Normandy landfill
-
Page
10: Spinneys to begin construction on a 15,000 square meter outlet, plus
associated mall in Hazmieh
-
Page
12: Dairy industry: Revival in the fortunes of domestic producers
-
Page
43: Central Bank launches General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) to
establish a central framework for statistics
-
Page
50: $1.5 million Doctors’ Hospital Akkar expected to be operational in
2006
-
Page
59: Commercial banks and real estate sector to benefit from new initiative: The
Central Bank to set up real estate company with assets of more
than $250 million
-
Page
64: Car insurance made compulsory
-
Page
11: MenaJet, The region’s first budget passenger airline to be launched
in December
-
Page
11: Carrefour will soon be operating in Dbayeh
-
Page
11: New Food Technology Holding opens first international outlets, in Saudi
Arabia and Kuwait
-
Page
11: The Export Center at the Port of Beirut will be the venue for the US government’s
first ever trade fair
-
Page
29: Business Extravaganza, Extensive exhibit pavilion and ten workshops
addressing different sectors of the economy
-
Page
33: Lebanon Business Network: Business partnership between local and
international companies launched on the Internet
-
Page
46: Secure Electronic Banking and Information for Lebanon (SEBIL), launched
by the Central Bank to provide the financial sector with a secure platform to
conduct online business
-
Page
49: Solidere posts record profits
-
Page
60: The University of Canada has started a $4 million extension project
-
Page
61: Medco is opening a service station in BCD
July
2003
-
Page
15: The international investment company Dogmoch Finance acquires 40 percent
stake in the Middle East Barter Holding
-
Page
15: IDAL grants Habtoor Group an incentive package deal for Metropolitan
City Center (MCC)
-
Page
16: $10 billion invested in the private sector since January 2000
-
Page
33: Niche tourism and the three-star hotel market largely untapped
-
Page
42: Media experts envision the creative industries sector to outperform
the region
-
Page 66: Société Générale de Banque du Liban (SGBL)
granted preliminary approval to open a new bank in Syria
-
Page 66: IFC and Citigroup set up a $70
million trade enhancement facility
-
Page 79: Unified tax code: comprehensive
income tax to increase revenues
-
Page 90: Construction tender for Marina
Towers awarded to CAT/LKH
-
Page 95: Reconstruction works of Holiday Inn
Hotel set to begin
-
Page 95: Monoprix to open outlets in
Zouk and Baabda
-
Page 107: Tariffs on international calls from
fixed and mobile phones reduced by 35 percent
- Page 11: Hewlett Packard is to set up an office in Beirut
-
Page 11: Naharnet and news wire Agence
France Presse (AFP) will be joining forces to distribute news to mobile
phones
-
Page 11: LAU and Balamand University with seven
other regional bodies sign a four million euro grant agreement with the EC for
a four-year water management and training project
-
Page 13: BLF launched a new website (www.ineterexlebanon.com)
designed to provide exporters with info on trade and competition
-
Page 13: Food outlet Subway plans to
open a further 20 branches over the next five years
-
Page 13: Uniceramic to open trade
facilities, showrooms, and offices in Baghdad, Amman, and California
-
Page 13: Luxury Selections, world’s most
expensive phones, soon in downtown
-
Page 13: Phoenicia Inter-Continental Hotel becomes
the first hotel in the region to provide Internet hotspots
-
Page 13: Publirizk merges with the
international advertising agency M&C Saatchi
-
Page 47: Central Bank launches LebStat,
to allow public and private sectors to access a general statistics database
-
Page 47: Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE) launches
NSC-UNIX, a new trading system to provide quicker services for investors
-
Page 51: Fransabank is to acquire
Banque de la Bekaa
-
Page 55: A consortium of six Lebanese banks
signs a $20 million loan agreement with the Kingdom Hotel Investment Group to
finance the new Damascus Four Seasons Hotel
-
Page 60: Edde Sands, major new beach and
hotel resort, developed in Byblos
-
Page 62: Marina industry expanding to
cater for dynamic boating sector
-
Page 75: The National News Agency (NNA)
starts broadcasting via satellite, as part of joint project with Agence France
Presse (AFP)
- Page 11: Auto Levant acquires Ford dealership, which previously belonged to Boustany-Dahdah Automobiles
-
Page 11: ‘Hi’, new monthly magazine published
by the State Department’s International Information Programs
-
Page 12: Future TV’s Superstar program netted
an estimated $4 million in voting revenues
-
Page 15: Multinationals returning to the
country after more than 15 years
-
Page 21: DataBank, InfoPro website
provides information free of charge
-
Page 23: Olive oil growers taste success on
the international market
-
Page 44: Byblos Bank Africa and OPEC
Fund for Development sign $5 million equity financing deal to fund a new
private bank in Sudan
-
Page 59: International Theme Park Services
(ITPS) is constructing an American-style amusement park at a cost of $100
million
-
Page 73: The Ministry of Telecom set up a new
monthly fixed rate for Internet connection via regular fixed telephone
lines
-
Page 76: Municipalities more
user-friendly and understandable institutions with less red tape
-
Page 12: Casper & Gambini’s open
second franchise in Saudi Arabia
-
Page 12: Aishti to open a department
store in Jal El Dib
-
Page 15: Lebanon looking to tap into sports
tourism with Beirut International Marathon
-
Page 15: Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal acquires 49
percent stake in LBCSAT
-
Page 16: Lebanese singer Elissa is Pepsi’s newest
spokesperson in the Middle East
-
Page 16: Monoprix will be opening in
Verdun’s Concorde Galleria in 2004
-
Page 18: Summer tourism exceeded expectations
-
Page 41: Billions of dollars in contracts
from the UN are up for grabs
-
Page 62: Four Lebanese banks make it to Euromoney
magazine’s top 250 emerging market banks for 2003
-
Page 67: The Governor of the Central Bank, Riad
Salameh, wins recognition from Euromoney magazine for stabilizing the
Lebanese Lira and keeping inflation down
-
Page 69: Small banks see profits improve
consistently over the past four years
-
Page 76: The international real estate
corporation Coldwell Banker is to open an office in Beirut
-
Page 77: Work on the first stage of the Garden
of Forgiveness gets underway
-
Page 77: Solidere teams up with the UK real
estate company Stow on a major new waterfront project in Beirut’s
western marina
-
Page 86: Port of Jounieh reopens docks
for cruise liners
-
Page 86: Arab investments in Lebanon
jump 189 percent between 2001 and 2002
-
Page 87: The Industrial Research Institute
(IRI) launches The
Quality Club, a venture aimed at improving quality control.