US firms make moves to be part of rebirth
Lebanon, Business, 8/15/1997

Despite a state department warning that Lebanon remains risky for Americans, the lifting of the travel ban has reinvigorated the interest of US citizens, allowing for high-profile trips by peace activists and businessmen searching for a role in the country's rebirth.

This week alone has seen two delegations of US firms announcing the establishment offices in Beirut. The ACE group, a Michigan-based company which is affiliated with the leading Dewberry & Davis international planners and architects and the Clark Construction company, announced on August 12 that it was setting up offices in Beirut.

A separate delegation from Graeber, Simmons & Cowan, a Texas-based architectural design firm, was in town to formally open offices in Harma.

And while a large delegation from a Washington-based nongovernmental organisation is in town to learn about post-war Lebanon, new agreements were being concluded between the Lebanese and US governments.

Lebanon and the United States signed a trade accord on investment development, storage, transport, shipping and reexport.

American ambassador Richard Jones, who signed the agreement on behalf of his country, expressed confidence the step would be beneficial to the economy and create jobs in the country.

"American businessmen believe that the opportunities here are worth taking chances for, and we've seen several such businessmen in the country, and we're going to see many more in the future," Jones said in a statement after the signing ceremony. He added that the move is for the benefit of both Lebanon and the US.

Youssef Choucair, who signed the agreement on behalf of Lebanon, said the arrival of the Americans in the Lebanese market would generate badly-needed competition and technology transfer in Lebanon. "The companies, which, until now, have been reluctant to make up their minds to come back to Lebanon, will now decide in favor of the move," said Choucair, the head of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL).

He was referring to the US travel ban which had restricted US involvement in the reconstruction boom before US secretary of State Madeleine Albright decided not to renew it.

He predicted that American, as well as Japanese and Korean firms, would venture into the Lebanese market, generating competition with beneficial effects.

Choucair expected that American firms would introduce new technologies, especially in the information science field, commenting that computer technologies would be suitable for Lebanon.

One of the first areas of American involvement, he added, would be a feasibility study on developing the Quleiaat and Riyak airports.

Despite the small size of the trade protocol, Choucair said, "these projects will open the door for other projects as well "

Choucair said that IDAL officials would visit the US to inform American businessmen and Lebanese based there about investment opportunities in Lebanon.

Also on August 14, minister of state for finance Fouad Seniora received a 24-member delegation of American peace activists. The delegation is largely made up of teachers and health care experts, led by Democrat Congressman Jim McDermott.

They all belong to the Physicians for Social Responsibility, a private peace organisation which was created in 1961 with the aim of preventing nuclear war.

McDermott said his team wanted to find out how US citizens could help promote Middle East peace in general, and reintroduce Lebanon to US citizens. "We wanted to see how we can lobby our congressmen and the administration around positions concerning this region," the congressman said.

McDermott said the trip had been organized in September and would have taken place even if the travel ban had not been lifted.

Dr. John Neff, another member of the team, said he and his colleagues were here "on an individual basis in order to try to find out what [they] can do in the Middle East."

The team toured the American University Hospital and the faculty of medicine, which Neff described as "remarkable." He added that the AUB had a high level of proficiency.

Neff said that upon its return the group intends to lobby public opinion and tell friends that Lebanon is rapidly returning to its pre-war glory.

"The fact that we go home and tell people that they can go and visit Lebanon will change an attitude that grew up during the travel ban," McDermott added.

"The first step towards hanging the attitude towards Lebanon was lifting the travel ban, the second step would be to get people to come to Lebanon," he stated.

President of the organisation David Hall said one of the reasons for the visit "would be to put a human face on Lebanon, especially since Lebanon was part of a Middle East solution that seems very difficult to grasp."

Previous Stories:
  US delegation chooses Beirut as regional headquarters for the Middle East   (8/13/1997)
  Beirut praises end of US travel ban on Lebanon   (7/31/1997)

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