Beirut: Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Tuesday sponsored a ceremony at the Grand Serail for the signing of project contracts and memoranda of understanding under the title "Tripoli: Strategic Partnerships, Investment Future and Sustainable Development," bringing together the Tripoli Port Authority, Tripoli Special Economic Zone and the Railway and Public Transport Authority.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri; Culture Minister Ghassan Salam©; Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny; Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi; Social Affairs Minister Hanine Sayed; Education and Higher Education Minister Rima Karami; Minister of State for Administrative Development Fadi Makki; Cabinet Secretary-General Judge Mahmoud Makieh; as well as MPs, Arab and foreign ambassadors, economic figures and sector stakeholders.
Prime Minister Salam highlighted the projects and agreements as steps toward a new economic vision for Tripoli, North Lebanon, and Akkar. He emphasized Tripoli's historical significance as a link between the Eastern Mediterranean and its inland hinterland, with its port and railway serving as crucial gateways. Despite disruptions caused by wars and neglect, Salam reiterated the unchanged geographic advantage of Tripoli.
He proposed an integrated economic system where Tripoli Port, the Special Economic Zone, and the railway work in unison. This system aims to transform Tripoli into a hub of economic power by leveraging its location, port facilities, human resources, and transport networks. Salam outlined a logistics framework integrating sea, land, and air, with Tripoli Port serving trade, the Special Economic Zone attracting investments, and Ren© Mouawad Airport providing an additional gateway.
Salam emphasized that infrastructure development is a means to create jobs, attract investments, and generate opportunities for various sectors. He announced ongoing implementations, including a new board at Tripoli Port, infrastructure modernization, and reactivation of the Special Economic Zone. Salam also mentioned consultancy work for the Tripoli-Abboudieh railway line and rehabilitation efforts for Ren© Mouawad Airport.
Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny stated that Tripoli is entering a new phase after years of underinvestment. He emphasized Tripoli Port's strategic location and the objective to transform it into a regional logistics hub in the Eastern Mediterranean. Rasamny highlighted an unprecedented level of institutional integration between Tripoli Port and related authorities and ministries.
Rasamny detailed plans for Tripoli Port, including around 20 development projects over the next three years, such as a modern customs inspection yard and a Port Community System. The port's container capacity is set to rise significantly, with expansion plans aiming to increase capacity from 250,000 to over 1.8 million TEUs annually.
Rasamny also stressed the importance of reconnecting Tripoli Port to regional transport networks, particularly through the Syrian railway. He mentioned the establishment of a joint Lebanese-Syrian technical team to facilitate this connection, potentially opening markets in Iraq, Jordan, the Gulf, and Turkey.
In his address to investors, Rasamny encouraged them to consider Tripoli for industrial and logistics investments, highlighting the city's potential to contribute significantly to Lebanon's economy. He emphasized that Tripoli's development would not only benefit the city but also Lebanon as a whole, transforming it into an engine of economic growth.