Syrian- Lebanese gas line to be launched mid 2005

Syria's Minister of Electricity announced gas transport line between Syria and Lebanon would be ready to take off at the middle of this year while the Minister of Industry called to enhance bilateral cooperation with Lebanon by building joint industrial companies.

"At mid this year, natural gas transport line from Syria to Lebanon will be ready as well as the Arab gas line from Egypt to Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Lebanon," in a meeting organized by Lebanese Industrial Society which recently hosted a group of Syrian ministers with their Lebanese counterparts, Minister of Electricity Muneeb Saem al-Daher said.

He pointed out at upcoming projects of gas from Iraq saying this would lower prices. Minister of Industry Ghassan Tayarah, for his part underlined the need to work for a comprehensive economic plan for the two states noting to the signing on the first joint company for tobacco between the two states in Bekaa valley and saying there were no exceptional lists for any product in both states where trade exchange have become exempted from tariffs.

"We call to build joint companies for industry men from the private sector in both countries," Tayara said.

Minister of Labor and Social Affaires Diyal al-Haj Aref, pointed out at the change of the Labor law which is going to be achieved in two months as to make balance between the employers and employees interest.

Lebanese Minister of Industry, Adnan Qassar, said the Syrian industry is enjoying a high quality urging to hold more meetings between the two sides as to make joint benefit.

Chairman of the Lebanese Industrial Society Fadi Abboud also urged to build joint industrial projects between the two states because industrial zones have become a cornerstone in the Syrian-Lebanese economic integration.