The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in coordination with the Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade (MoET) have recently launched a 3.5-year program dubbed the Women’s Economic Empowerment through Advancing Women-Led Enterprises in Lebanon (WEE) project. The project aims to strengthen and enhance the economic security, stability and prosperity of women-led and women-owned MSMEs in Lebanon.  Bringing together 45 women-led MSMEs from the agro-food, cosmetics and creative industries, the event served as a platform for these businesses to showcase their products. These businesses have received grants from UNDP to sustain and expand their production and will also benefit from tailored technical support to enhance their access to national and international markets. In partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UNDP is working towards the goal of reaching 1,0000 enterprises, to foster their growth and sustainability.  The project is set to play a key role in fostering sustainable growth for MSMEs by focusing on three main pillars: Streamlining the business environment, aiding in access to financial instruments and technical assistance. This initiative comes as challenges have severely disrupted MSME value chains, reduced production and sales, and ultimately affected the livelihoods of thousands of Lebanese. As the backbone of Lebanon’s economy, MSMEs account for over 50% of the labor force and contribute around 40% of economic output, making their recovery essential for economic stability and growth. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Bank Audi, Lebanon Weekly Monitor, 10 - 16 March 2025