As a company that specializes in construction materials we have a great interest in Lebanon. We have been studying Lebanon with very close observation: the political stability, the security of the economy. The government has assured us that there will be a very healthy budget announced soon.
My aim is to increase our equity, which has doubled since 2005. Also, I would like to double our assets and be a leader in the strategic business lines we have targeted.
The distribution sector in Lebanon cant think of itself as being a simple supply operation, it has to be a full partner in this equation and fully committed and dedicated to provide services at a competitive rate in order to enhance the value equation for the product.
We are seeking to increase our exports and to increase our sales by 50% in the upcoming years. We think we have a strong base in the paper and packaging industry in Lebanon and we look forward to expanding in the region and collaborating with other regional players in paper and packaging industry.
The Lebanon real estate sector was not affected and there is a real demand in Lebanon real estate. UAE is also productive for the real estate business and we were involved there before we were even involved in Lebanon. When the crisis started Dubai was hurt much more than other countries in the real estate market due to speculation instead of investment.
Beirut Arab University is well established in the forty school market and most schools aren’t as old as ours. Beirut Arab University developed our curriculum every two or three years to match the requirement of the market to enable students to enter the job market with ease as well. Further, I think it might be time to open another campus in Beirut. I believe Beirut Arab University is doing quite well.
NAVLINK has a unique approach to the needs of our customers. We have a Solutions Center which is staffed with experts from various fields. Our Solutions Center has the ability to digest all the new technologies and listen to what our customers require. Our customers are moving more and more towards IT outsourcing in the Middle East. The trend to IT outsourcing in the Middle East, IT services and infrastructure is reaching this part of the world.
The Lebanon banking sector has grown markedly over the last years with total assets nearing $120 billion as at the end of the first quarter of 2010, customer deposits exceeding the $99 billion mark and loans to the private sector firming at $25.79 billion.
Sustainability today is a reality, not a luxury and you have to look at the environment seriously in design and construction. We are fully committed to to the concept of sustainability and we’re doing what is humanly possible to move in that direction. Sustainable solutions start at the master planning stage.
The model that currently exists for Beirut port is unique in Lebanon but not in the world. Beirut port, is a model where the port is not privatized but it is owned and built by the government. Thus, at Beirut port the risk of the infrastructure and superstructure is the government’s risk. We are the managers of the assets but we are not paid, a flat fee but we share revenue. Every dollar Beirut port gets we get 40 cents so it provides us with incentive to attract business, do the work more efficiently, and provide excellent customer service at Beirut Port.
