US Ambassador visits Tripoli's Chamber of Commerce, confirms support after reforms

President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Tripoli and North Lebanon Tawfik Daboussi welcomed on Thursday US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea with whom he discussed the general economic conditions, as well as the robust existing relationship between the Lebanese and US private sectors.

Moreover, Dabbousi briefed the US diplomat on the development of a number of projects in north Lebanon's chamber, which include a business incubator (Biat), an Industrial Development and Research Center, as well as food and quality control laboratories.

For her part, Ambassador Shea expressed her full admiration and appreciation of said projects and wished north Lebanon's chamber, and its management, "further progress and development."

In further details, Shea reiterated the US support for the Lebanese private sector and encouragement of a thriving Lebanese economy.

"The US has provided a lot of in-kind assistance to encourage Lebanon's productive sectors, especially by means of standing side-by-side with the Lebanese people after Beirut Port explosion back in August. The US has also provided Lebanon with humanitarian aid and assistance to help cope with the burdens of the Coronavirus pandemic," the US diplomat said.

"We have close relations with Lebanon, which we never underestimate; we are endeavoring to enable and develop trade exchange relations between our two countries despite the presence of obstacles facing the development process, on top of which are corruption and the absence of transparency and opportunities to help the advancement of the Lebanese economy," Shea added.

She went on to point out that "the United States wants Lebanon to become a stable and independent country that records success in developing and modernizing its economy. The international conference is ready to provide the required support, but reforms are necessary, and so is the government that ensures the implementation of these reforms."



NNA