Lebanon’s private sector should be an engine for job creation and economic growth. The Partnership is working to help revive the private sector in Lebanon and create jobs through SME enablement projects and ICT micro-grants to rural and southern Lebanon. The Partnership is working with key stakeholders on a Creative Cluster Initiative and has also launched an innovative Executive Mentorship program to encourage collaboration between U.S. and Lebanese business leaders.


Lebanon Creative Cluster Initiative: Lebanon in collaboration with the Professional Computer Association of Lebanon (PCA) and Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy are working together to establish a creative cluster in Lebanon. A workshop entitled 'Lebanon Creative Cluster' was held on Wednesday February 18th, 2009. This workshop aimed at exploring the potential of Lebanon to become a leading creative industries cluster and overcome current barriers to success.

Lebanon Creative Cluster Workshop

The creative sector already plays a major role in the economic competitiveness of Lebanon. However, it is not fully realizing its growth potential, nor adding value to the competitiveness of other sectors.

Therefore, this workshop was undertaken to explore in more details:
- The specific dynamics of the creative cluster sector in Lebanon
- A way forward for Lebanon to become the Creative Hub of the Middle East

During the workshop, four round tables were held each tackling a theme. The four themes were:
- Developing Capacity
- The Support Landscape
- Access to Capital
- Market Shaping and Market Making




The urgent need for different creative sectors to unite together, work hand in hand and collaborate to make this project a fruitfuil and productive one has been emphasized through out the workshop
Note: A second workshop will follow at the end of April



C.R.E.D.I.T (Cisco Rural Entreprise Development for Information and Technology): Cisco announced a $1 million grant to Relief International in January 2008. With this grant, Relief International will encourage Lebanese entrepreneurs to create new IT businesses in rural areas and provide them with the needed support. The CREDIT program was officialy launched on Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 and it featured a signing ceremony between Relief International and its implementing microfinance partners on the project - Al Majmoua and Ameen microfinance institutions. The Objectives of the CREDIT project are to: - Create a minimum number of sustainable and profitable small businesses in the ICT sector within rural geographical clusters - Improve the business and entrepreurship skills of graduates of Cisco Networking Academies and other institutions throughout Lebanon - Strengthen community engagement in IT business development - Improve the capacity of local Lebanese MFIs to serve the ICT sector - Diminish the divide between rural and urban areas in Lebanon



Training participants complete their final exams at the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce's course, "Improving Business
Performance" at the American University of Beirut on 18 April 2007.

The Partnership for Lebanon Executive Mentorship Program
Executive Mentorships : The Partnership’s Executive Mentorship Program, which launched in March 2008, offers an opportunity for accomplished business leaders in the United States to share some of their most valuable resources—their experience, insight, and expertise—with Lebanon’s CEOs.


For questions or to find out how to get involved, email privatesector@partnershipforlebanon.org.
 
Contribute to the Job Creation/Private Sector Revival work stream.