ESCWA’s REGION WORKSHOP FOR TRADE FACILITAION FOR SME’s

1. ESCWA’s REGION WORKSHOP FOR TRADE FACILITAION FOR SME’s OnImproving Private Sector Competitiveness in the MENA Region Presented by Atef Wafic Idriss

2. EditorialSolving Arab Problems Requires Grasping New Realities You cannot smile at all. You are in Beit Hanoun:The human situation in Beit Hanoun village north of Gaza citySunday 5th Nov. 2006 Those two photos can speak for themselves. A moment of peaceful demonstration and protest has turned into a moment of death for two civilian women and injuries for others! Protestors were calling upon the Arab leaders and the world community to intervene to stop the Israeli operation. Just imagine the situation. Cooperation & External Relations Department. Agricultural Development Association (PARC)-Gaza

3. Arab Foods in International and Regional Trade • The MENA Region has good export potential for processed food products, they are constrained by high trade barriers in many developed countries • For instance, from January to June 2001, 27% of food exports from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to the United States were rejected by the USFDA due to non-compliance with the U.S. safety measures (filth, microbiological contamination, greater than permitted levels of pesticide residues or food additives) and 58% due to labeling problems

4. Foodborne Disease in the Middle East • Limited surveillance information • Egypt periodic reports on outbreaks; tourist illnesses rarely documented • Some outbreaks • Local, e.g., a cake with Salmonella Typhi in Saudi Arabia; botulism in Egypt from uneviscerated fish, US forces with locally provided boxed lunches (undetermined agent) • Specific studies • School meals in Bahrain • Echinococcosis in Palestinian Arabs: Christian, Druze and Muslims (dogs as a source) • Microbial counts of seafood in Saudi Arabia

5. Microbial Foodborne Pathogens

6. Surveillance Weaknesses in Many Countries • Outdated food laws, standards and regulations • No centralized approach or coordination among departments and agencies to food control with jurisdictional confusion and overlap • Lack of adequately trained personnel • Limited capacity for food control laboratories • Food industry is familiar with terms like GMPs, GHPs and HACCP systems but has not ability or will to do these • Countries cannot compete effectively in the export market to be in compliance with the SPS agreement • Conflict between public health objectives and facilitation of trade and industry development • Limited opportunities for appropriate scientific inputs in decision-making processes

7. MEFOSA’s VISION MEFOSA sarl believes that safe food and feed are a prerequisite for sustainable development, and that the Arab Middle East should develop its own food safety prerequisites in full recognition with its own socio-economic priorities, and in harmony with international standards and norms, while respecting the culture, family values and quality of life throughout the MENA region.

8. MEFOSA Comp. Advantages Our Professionalism Number of years of experience in this field Our Achievements which build on our Good Will, and reputation in the Food Industry Our Tailor Made Response to your Needs. Personalized Intervention (we are always available to listen to your objectives, to install a tailor made program adapted to your particular needs). MEFOSA’s Business Values Shared Knowledge with Stakeholders (personnel, customers, suppliers, and partners). Customer Satisfaction. Continuous Improvement.  Ethical competition with competitors Commitment & Loyalty to Stakeholders. Client-focused business with a consumer focus. MEFOSA’s Comparative Advantages

9. Food Safety Consultancy Food Safety, Food Hygiene, Food Traceability, as for the new EU directives and laws. Food Safety Audits and Training to national and international food related requirements: HACCP, GMP and Food borne Illness. Good Manufacturing Practices (21 CFR 100). HACCP Implementation Sanitation/GMP Audits: Sanitation and Handling practices. To conduct an independent audit using 21 CFR 110 as a guide. General EFSA/EU and FDA/USA Compliance Audits: To comply with FDA, USDA and EFSA regulations regarding acceptable equipment and Networking, Communication within companies (ERP solutions) and address supply chains sterilization practices. Agribusiness Consultancy Agricultural primary production, included horticulture Forestry Fisheries (maritime and fresh water) and aquaculture (incl. health) Land management (land reform, land use planning and farm restructuring) Rural infrastructure incl. irrigation and drainage Equipment definition (agriculture equipment, laboratories...) Crop protection and disease control Agro Industrial Consultancy • HACCP Built by design • Electro-Mechanical Design • Electro-Mechanical Maintenance for Plants • Plant Process Reengineering, Restructuring and Work Flow according to International Standards and Food Safety regulations

10. Market Access E-commerce Site

11. Market Access E-commerce site The portal allows an access to the major food products from different Arab and Lebanese geographical indications. It provides Information Source for the Lebanese Food Industry. The portal includes comprehensive e-business services which help the portal members buy, sell, and market more efficiently with an economical and efficient way of sourcing and transacting business throughout the world. Food industry portal providing each member with a private marketplace to trade in a secure, neutral e-commerce platform. IT Services and Process Control Provide integrated solutions for the commercial, industrial companies, and specialized retail. Front Office and IT solution provider (networking, backup engines, security engines, disaster backup, advanced servers, and paper less and archiving solutions. Back Office & Business Integration ERP consulting provider solution for small to medium companies with flexibility in licensing (one license for multiple sister companies) with discounts on implementations on the several locations. Try our leasing program procedure for the ERP solution for the medium companies in addition to yearly maintenance contract. HACCP, Traceability and ISO software.

12. Trading and Commercial Services • Investing Consultants in Food Industry and Marketing • List the consulting services you wish to offer our clients. • Marketing case studies for several regional and international markets. • Export (foods), Marketing services, Exhibitions services • Market survey, Open new market • Private label, Int. Supermarket orders (private & special foods). From Lebanon

13. Technologies we distribute:

14. Technologies we distribute: Food Prevention Systems: DECAGON Manufacturers of Biophysical Instrumentation • Water Activity meters • Thermal properties meters • Plant research products • Soil research products • Soil moisture monitoring

15. AGRIPOLE : Agro-Economic and Food Safety SME Incubator • 80% delivering of Incubation services with business hosting facilities, it will operate as an INCUBATOR CENTRE and Business Accelerator • 20% delivering of Business Support Services and Business Development Services for SMEs, it will operate as a BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (BDC) • Generating successful companies and accelerating the growth and success of entrepreneurial companies by providing them with a comprehensive and integrated range of business support resources and services, including (incubator space, business support services, and clustering and networking opportunities) that after “graduating” will leave the program financially viable and freestanding”.

16. AGRIPOLE : Agro-Economic and Food Safety SME Incubator AGRIPOLE : Agro-Economic and Food Safety SME Incubator

17. Developing Markets Objective 1. Facilitating Marco Economic Initiatives: Great Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA), Euro-Mediterranean Association (EUROMED), US (Free Zones) and WTO accession, in order to help the penetration of Lebanese SMEs’ services and manufactured products in international markets Objective 2.Linking Companies With local & international food service and catering Cies Objective 3. Training and developing Marketing and labeling tools such as PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), Lebanese “Terroir”…etc. Legal Framework Modernization Objective 4. Developing food safety, rural, social and environmental initiatives & Laws projects Objective 5.Developing Food Standard Norms & Accreditation Policies; Assuming the conformity of the production to Lebanese Food Laws and Regulations, EFSA (European Food safety Authority), FDA (BioT), WTO-WHO (Codex) and FAO Initiatives AGRIPOLE : Agro-Economic and Food Safety SME Incubator

18. Knowledge, R&D, Objective 6. Establishing of knowledge and information data base about Agro Industrial initiatives and integrating SMEs into the information society and economy Objective 7:Reinforcing new product development concepts and culture Improving Production Performance Objective 8 Development of Technical and Scientific Human Resources in Agriculture, Food Processing and Related Sectors and provision of a well educated, well trained, and a well maintained work force supporting the Agro-Economy and Agro-Tourist industries Objective 9 Generating an Integrated Financial Development Plan for SMEs. Objective 10 Improvement and upgrading of the quality of the Lebanese food products to meet the local and export market standards & specifications Objective 11Reinforcing linkages between agriculture & industry AGRIPOLE : Agro-Economic and Food Safety SME Incubator

19. MEFOSA & MoVE/SLFI VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROJECT Ten years of continued deliberations on market driven vocational education in Lebanon 2006 is the school year startup in spite of Israeli aggression!

20. was established in Beirut, Lebanon in 1996 to satisfy the need of the increasing number of Food Scientists and Technologists for our association of their own focused on their interests. It is non political, non-profit association. The main aim of The Lebanese Association of Food Scientists and Technologists is to enhance the conditions of the food industry by the sound application of the sciences and technologies and by spreading knowledge concerning the technology of food processing. The Lebanese Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (LAoFST)

21. Symposium involving Mid-East and N. Africa highlighting the region’s Food Science, Food Safety and Food Industry drivers/concerns with speakers from the different areas of MENA (Middle East North Africa) region.

22. Lebanese Association for Geographic Appellation (LAGA) • Geographical Indications Conclusions and Recommendations • The elaboration of a Legal Framework for Quality Labels • The creation of an Organism forProtected Designations. It may be an Institute or a National Council. The National Institute of Geographic Appellations • The institution is supposed to be able to provide instruments and education to the Agro- Food producers and to watch their work and to protect the Designations of Origin in the inside and outside of markets • Setting up, as soon as possible, a mechanism for surveying the existing geographical indications and exploring the available potential • The creation of supervisory mechanisms for geographical indications (such as an ad hoc commission and/ or a provisional delegation to qualified bodies, etc.) may be created at the same time as the Institute or National council of designations. .

23. MEFOSA and the Lebanese Association for Marketing & Advertising (LAMA) LAMA Mission Statement: • Is established in Lebanon in 1995 • Is a non profit organization and shall not deal with any political issues • Advertising Industry in Lebanon is witnessing a downturn • Advertisers were left on the sidelines because of the lack of a formal Association to streamline their prerogatives to defend their legitimate causes. • LAMA was created to fill this gap. In 1996, a general assembly was elected from affiliated members who represented around 60 % of total advertising spend in Lebanon. • The Association is created to improve the Marketing and Advertising industry according to the Advertisers interests and concerns. Much more information at : www.wfa-lb.org

24. The Top 40 Arab Brands

25. LU PROJECT ON AFLATOXIN REASERCH

26. AUB / MSU& MEFOSA American University of Beirut jointly with Michigan State University have ratified an MoU with MEFOSA’s facilitation aiming to create a Food Safety Institute which highlights on all food safety issues in the MENA region. This institute was established in conjunction with the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at AUB and the National Food Safety and Toxicology Center (NFSTC) at MSU. Recently Dr. Ewen Todd Director of NFSTC was invited to give a lecture stressing on worldwide food safety issues (LAoFST organized this event) at AUB and Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture at Beirut (CCIAB) on 16 – 17 May 2006. For more information visit : www.foodsafe.msu.edu

27. Institute of Family Business – School of Business ( LAU) organized many events & seminars at LAU to discuss issues of concern. Recent event opening of LAU’s program on “Communication and Conflict in the Family Business” between 15 – 18 March 2006 at LAU. Others relations were made with LAU’s Center for Strategic Development (CSD) which MEFOSA is a member in this center where our team attended several courses in the center emphasizing on auditing, business, management, sales, networking, and others which help in strengthening the basic steps of any new enterprise and helps in general knowledge and feedback. Recently CSD published its newsletter which we share with it as well. For further information on LAU : www.lau.edu.lb Institute for Social, Religious & Civil Society Studies – ISORCS at Notre Dame University at Louaize – Lebanon organized many events and launched educational courses. Recent courses was under the title of “How to star an NGO” under the supervision of the NGO Management Program at LAU – Louaize on 9 June 2005. In the same aspect there was the event of conference launching of NGO Degree Program at NDU on 24 May 2006. The courses and seminars stress on organizing for concerned people who might be engaged in the social, religious and civil sectors and wish to strengthen their feedback and vision. Visit NDU website at : www.ndu.edu.lb

28. United Nations Economic & Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) MEFOSA participated in the : “Regional Seminar on Sustainable Development & Competitiveness of the Agro-food Sector” at the United Nations House at Beirut, Lebanon, between 1 – 2 December 2005 and in the: Seminar “Arab – Palestinian Roundtable on Agricultural & Agro-Industrial Development in the Gaza Strip” on 3 December 2005. Strengthening Small & Medium Enterprises SME towards more productivity and challenging aspects. Environmental Standards & competitiveness of key economic sectors. More information at: www.escwa.org.lb

29. Projects Supported by the European Commission in Lebanon • EU Industrial Modernization Project (ELCIM) • EU Quality Project (Food Quality Committee) • Strengthening Quality Management, Capabilities and Infrastructure in Lebanon (QUALEB ) • Project No. EuropeAid/119802/D/SV/LB/4800/3 • (ADP Project)

30. MEFOSA and Global Compact A W Idriss participated in the review of the UN/ GC initiative and we support its principales. The Global Compact’s ten principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption enjoy universal consensus and are derived from: • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights • The International Labor Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work • The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development • The United Nations Convention Against Corruption The Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labor standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. For more information go to : www.unglobalcompact.org

31. MEFOSA and World Health Organization (WHO - EMRO) MEFOSA participated in the expert meeting for the MENA initiative for the regions Validation of Food Safety Recent event attended by Mr. Atef Idriss was the seminar “Regional Consultative Meeting on Food Safety Legislation” in Cairo between 26 – 28 June 2005 as a “WHO Temporary Adviser”. For additional information about WHO visit it’s web site at: www.emro.who.int

32. MEFOSA’s FUTURE INTERESTS IN FOOD POLITICS & SAFETY

33. MEFOSA’s REASERCH INTERESTS IN SME PRODUCTIVITY & MENA COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES

34. MEFOSA’s SME MANAGEMENT PRACTICES REVIEW & THE BEST MENA FIT

35. الجمعية اللبنانية للتسويق والاعلان L A M A Lebanese Association for Marketing & Advertising Our Associations and Partners

36. PS: We recommend for further reading: “A Modest Proposal” By Jonathan Swift “Hunger, poverty, overpopulation – society’s ills have changed little since 1729 when renowned satirist and author of Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift, posited a novel solution to Ireland’s pressing problems: use children as food! Radical, fascinating and as relevant as the day it was written.” Bük at : www.bukamerica.com

37. Contact Details