Tourism total output $9.4 billion in 2017. Six percent growth expected this year

The contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was $9.4 billion last year, representing 18 percent of GDP, of which $7 billion were generated from foreign visitors, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

The total amount includes direct contributions represented by subsectors such as hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation, and other indirect contributions from investment and the supply chain.

The direct contribution of travel and tour...

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Financial crimes on the rise 597 cases reported. Embezzlement is the most reported crime

The number of money laundering and terrorism financing crimes reported to the Central Bank's Special Investigation Commission (SIC) increased 27 percent to 597 cases in 2017.

Nearly 80 percent of the cases were reported by local entities with the remaining 20 percent received from foreign entities.

The SIC has so far investigated 514 of these cases, or 86 percent of the total. It has referred 250 of the investigated cases to the General Prosecutor and to requesting authorities. The...

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Industrial zone by Chmistar Municipality.

Works have started on 55 warehouse structures.

The project is being implemented by the municipality of Chmistar. Task Engineering Contractors will be overseeing and managing the project.

The land plot is 30,000 square meters (m2) in size. It will comprise 55 warehouses with parking for cars, each of which includes a mezzanine with a total space of 120 m2. The project will also encompass factories that will be built as hangars upon demand.

Abdallah Tfaili, Deputy Mayor of Chm...

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Ramco picking up Beirut trash as of May. Treatment of refuse coming up next

A joint venture between local firm Ramco Trading and Contracting and Turkish firm Altaş Temizlik has started garbage collection, transport, and road sweeping operations in Beirut.

The company won the tender, held by the Municipality of Beirut, for $70 million over a period of five renewable years.

The company will pick up 650 tons of waste per day.

The company has taken over operations from Sukleen, a company under the Averda umbrella, and which had been in charge of roa...

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Employment program for infrastructure launched. ILO and UNDP target refugees and host communities

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has partnered with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to launch the first phase of the Employment Intensive Infrastructure Program (EIIP). The program falls under the government–led crisis plan for 2017-2020.

The aim is to offer job opportunities for both locals and Syrian refugees.

Tomas Stenstrom, Chief Technical Advisor and team leader of the project from ILO, said that Phase I is funded by The German Development Bank (KFW) and ...

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