ESCWA and ALI Launch Green Production Help Desk

In a press conference that gathered the board members of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI), ESCWA officials, and representatives from media institutions, ESCWA and ALI launched on 27 June 2013 the “Green Production Help Desk (GHD)” project, which provides information and technical advisory services for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to comply with the objectives and principles of sustainable development. Statements were delivered by Nehmat Frem, Head of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, Roula Majdalani, Director of ESCWA Sustainable Development and Productivity Division, and Ziad Chammas, Director of ALI Environment and Energy Committee. Frem highlighted the existing cooperation between ALI and ESCWA at different levels, pointing out that “the launch of this project is based on the commitment of the Lebanese industrialists to preserve the environment.” He called on the industrialists to communicate with GHD to improve their capacities in using technical standards and benefit from the appropriate advisory services. For her part, Majdalani said that the launch of this project in the current circumstances showed the belief of the industrial sector in sustainable development. She praised the efforts of ALI, which proved to be one of the best partners in Lebanon and the region, and noted that the project was based on three interrelated pillars: economic, social and environmental. Chamas gave an overview of the project and its main objectives, saying that it ensured collection and dissemination of information on green business opportunities; national policies, programs, institutions and laws related to green economy; green funding opportunities; and regional and international support programs and best practices in green production. “The help desk also organizes national workshops and training courses for trainers on topics related to green production sectors,” he said. Chamas added that the objectives of GHD included developing a better understanding of policies and programs and disseminating best practices in this area; increasing access to information for decision-makers on opportunities of green production at the national and local levels; and capacity building for the design of national and local policies and programs for stimulating and developing green production sectors.