July 26
The US Ambassador Dorothy Shea visited the Association of Lebanese Industrialists on 26/06/2022. The president of the association Mr. Salim Zeenni welcomed the American ambassador to the Association’s headquarters, stressing that industrialists, despite all the challenges, are still providing all support to Lebanon by providing all its needs to avoid the country’s collapse.
Mr. Zeenni revealed that the industrial sector employs the most labor force in the country among all other sectors, and despite all the challenges, we will not retreat or immigrate, and we will remain in Lebanon. Mr. Zeenni affirmed the industrialists’ determination to remain in Lebanon and to contribute to the advancement and development of its economy, and he said: “We are able to do this with the help of friends such as the United States of America, which has provided and still provides a lot of support to Lebanon in various sectors.
For her part, Ambassador Shea thanked Mr. Zeeni and the Association of Lebanese Industrialists for the warm reception, and expressed her readiness to provide all the necessary support to serve Lebanon and its economy.
She said: The United States is a friend and partner of Lebanon. It was one of the first supporters of Lebanon’s signing an agreement with the International Monetary Fund to restore its health, and we are still supportive of all the reform measures that the government must take in order to proceed in the agreement with the IMF, because we consider that this is an opportunity for the Lebanese economy.
She considered that the agreement with the IMF would be the beginning of restoring confidence in the Lebanese economy as well as in the financial sector, and this is the most important thing for us. It is also necessary to work on the sustainability of securing energy and electricity for hospitals, schools, businesses and factories, and she said: It is true that work has begun on this matter, but it is not an easy thing.
The US ambassador expressed the full readiness of the US side to provide all the necessary support to Lebanon, pointing out that they are focusing their efforts to help the country return to the recovery’s path.