The Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Tripoli and the North (CCIAT) and the Business Incubation Association in Tripoli (BIAT) launched  the Agri-Agro 360 project on Wednesday.  Agri-Agro 360 is a support program for small and medium enterprises, startups, farmers, cooperatives, entrepreneurs, youth, and innovators in agricultural technologies, according to a statement.  The launch ceremony took place on Tuesday at the chamber's headquarters, which provides the majority of the project's funding, with hopes to attract additional local or foreign donors in the future. BIAT, a Lebanese NGO founded in 2006, with a mission to empower individuals, companies, and communities, offers its services free of charge as part of the program.  "In 2023, agriculture only represented 1.09% of the Lebanese GDP, compared to 12% in 1995. These figures alone are enough to measure the scope of work ahead of us. We believe in local talents and revitalizing remote regions — precisely what this program aims to accomplish," said BIAT's board chairman, Nasri Mouawad, during the ceremony.  The president of the CCIAT, Toufic Dabbousi, described it as a "pioneering project that embodies the chamber's commitment to the Lebanese agricultural sector, a true driver of economic growth and sustainable development."  According to information provided to L’Orient-Le Jour by the organizers through their press service, the program has no deadline and will continue as long as it produces satisfactory results. Initially, it aims to support "100 entrepreneurs, startups, or companies per year in bringing their products to market, developing their products, or enhancing soil value." These entities can operate in the agricultural or agri-food sectors.  Workshops on related themes, such as packaging, are also planned.  North Lebanon encompasses many agricultural regions, which were largely spared from the war. However, the agricultural sector as a whole was significantly impacted, with $742 million in economic losses, nearly ten times the estimated $79 million in material damages in agriculture, according to a World Bank report published in February. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: L'Orient Today