Beirut: The Konrad Adenauer Institute recently held a gala dinner in honor of Lebanon's Minister of Industry, Joe Issa El Khoury. The event was attended by visiting German parliamentarians, as well as political and economic figures. During his address, Issa El Khoury highlighted the historical friendship between Lebanon and Germany, emphasizing their shared values of resilience, productivity, innovation, and respect for human dignity.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Issa El Khoury stressed the need for the partnership between Lebanon and Germany to evolve beyond traditional relations and toward strategic industrial cooperation. He expressed gratitude to Germany for its ongoing commitment to peace and stability in southern Lebanon, particularly through its involvement with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Germany's participation includes land and naval forces engaged in maritime security operations, patrols, training, and capacity-building for the Lebanese Navy, all aimed at supporting UN resolutions on monitoring the ceasefire and borders.
The minister further emphasized that Germany's involvement in UNIFIL transcends military dimensions, symbolizing solidarity with the Lebanese people and a commitment to strengthening Lebanon's sovereignty and security. He remarked that this partnership in peacekeeping reflects Germany's dedication to Lebanon's stability.
Looking ahead, Issa El Khoury proposed that Lebanese-German relations should focus on economic collaboration, particularly in the industrial sector. He noted Germany's global leadership in industrial technology and highlighted Lebanon's strategic advantage, characterized by its educated, multilingual, and skilled youth. This complementarity, he argued, forms a natural foundation for a promising partnership.
El Khoury articulated a vision where Lebanon serves as a platform for German technological industries, leveraging its proximity to Middle Eastern production and marketing hubs. He suggested that German companies could establish technology and engineering offices in Lebanon, facilitating software development, industrial design, research and development, and regional market services.
Issa El Khoury explained that the Ministry of Industry is actively working to support this vision by upgrading infrastructure, digitizing procedures, developing industrial technology zones, and enhancing export capacity. He clarified that Lebanon seeks partnerships based on real investment opportunities rather than aid.
In conclusion, El Khoury underscored the shared understanding between Lebanon and Germany of transforming challenges into opportunities, advocating for a transition from good relations to strategic relations, trade to joint production, and friendship to shared prosperity.