President Aoun reviews Northern Lebanon development projects
President of the Republic Joseph Aoun held a series of parliamentary, economic and environmental meetings at Baabda Palace on Tuesday, addressing national developments, infrastructure projects, waste management and challenges facing Lebanon’s agricultural sector.
Aoun received MP Sajih Atieh for discussions on domestic and regional developments, particularly development priorities in northern Lebanon.
Speaking after the meeting, Atieh reaffirmed the President’s commitment to national unity, civil peace, Lebanon’s neutrality and political and financial reforms.
He said discussions focused on recovering depositors’ funds, accelerating work on René Mouawad Airport in Kleyat, fisheries, the Lebanese University and development projects in Akkar and northern Lebanon.
Atieh also stressed the importance of adopting a state budget that promotes balanced development and addresses longstanding regional disparities.
Separately, Aoun received Marwan Rizkallah, Chairman of the National Solid Waste Management Authority, who briefed him on the latest developments in Lebanon’s waste management sector.
Discussions covered progress achieved, outstanding challenges and proposed short- and long-term solutions ahead of Cabinet deliberations on the issue.
The President also met with a delegation from the Syndicate of Fruit and Vegetable Importers and Exporters, headed by its president, Naeem Saleh.
Saleh welcomed Saudi Arabia’s decision to reopen its markets to Lebanese exports, describing the move as significant for agricultural producers, exporters and bilateral trade.
He urged the President to help resolve longstanding issues involving the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) and restore its role in supporting agricultural exports.
Syndicate Secretary-General Ibrahim Tarshishi raised additional concerns regarding vehicle and truck registration regulations, shipping procedures and facilitating agricultural exports through Gulf countries.
President Aoun reaffirmed the agricultural sector’s importance to Lebanon’s economy, food security and employment.
He pledged to follow up on the syndicate’s demands with the relevant authorities, stressing the need to improve production quality, facilitate exports and strengthen the competitiveness of Lebanese agricultural products in regional markets.
