Official Name

Republic of Lebanon

Capital

Beirut

Main Cities

Tripoli, Saida, Tyre, Baalbeck, Byblos, Jounieh, Zahle.

Currency

Lebanese Pound (LL) also called Lira

Rate of Exchange (Official)

1 Re = LL 37.19 (October, 2007)
1 US$ = LL 1514 (October, 2007)
1 US$ = Rs 40.67 (October, 2007)

Population

4.1 million, plus 350,000 Palestinians

Gross Domestic Product

US$ 24.6 billion ( Dec, 2007)

Total Public Debt

US$ 41 billion ( Dec, 2007 )

Per Capita Income

US$ 9100 ( estimated 2007 )

Area

10,452 sq. kms.

Main Languages

Arabic (French & English widely spoken)

GDP rate of Growth

4% (estimated 2006)

Gross Foreign currency

Reserves held with the Central Bank of Lebanon :
US$ 20.55 billion (Dec, 2007)

About Lebanon

Country's population is only about 4 million. As compared to its population, it has a large diaspora abroad which numbers millions of descendants. Lebanon gives official recognition to eighteen Christian, Muslims, Islamic and other religious sects. The country has a Parliamentary democracy with equal representation of Muslims and Christians and the Constitution guarantees basic freedoms and human rights. Traditionally, President is a Maronite whereas Prime Minister is a Sunni and the Speaker a Shiite.

Trade & Economic Relations

Lebanese Market Size

The size of Lebanese market is estimated to be only four million. Compared to the annual global imports into Lebanon, Indian share is merely 1.1 percent. Bulk of the Lebanese import is from Western hemisphere and to a lesser extent from the Gulf region. The main reason behind this practice is the long established trading links with those countries which could be due to the presence of a large Lebanese Diasporas settled there for quite some time.

Recent Trend

Although, the local currency has remained unchanged against dollar, Lebanese imports from Europe have become costly due to the appreciation of Euro against dollar. This has made the local business community to look towards China and India for their requirements. The visit of Lebanese businessmen to India is on the increase in the recent past to explore trading possibilities.

Volume of Trade

Indo-Lebanon trade, which has come to a virtual halt during the civil war, has started picking up gradually. Total trade between Lebanon and India was to the tune of US$ 13.60 million in 1993. During the seven year period from 1993 to 1999, the trade grew at a slow pace and could reach only around the mark of US$ 55 million in 1999. However, since 2000 there has been a marked difference. Total volume of trade during 2003 was US$ 98.24 million as compared to US$ 85.3 million in 2002, an annual increase of 15.16 percent. Balance of trade is heavily in favor of India which has reached US$ 106 million in 2006. Details of bilateral trade may be seen at Annexure 'A'.

Imports from India

Indian exports to Lebanon amounted to US$ 118 million in 2006 compared to US$ 139 million in 2005. Over half of the total import is made up of textiles & its articles and Gems & Jewellery. Other major items are animal products, articles of plastic, vegetable products, Machinery/electrical instruments and articles of base metal. Textiles and its articles accounted for about 25 percent of the total imports from India in 2006 whereas Gems & Jewellery accounted for 29 percent. Details of imports of Principal commodities into Lebanon from India during last three calendar years may please be seen at Annexure 'B'.

Meat and meat products, especially frozen buffalo meat, has a good market as it is cheaper in comparison to fresh meat. However, importers in this commodity are facing a stiff challenge from the syndicate of live stock importers. On our intervention, the local authorities have standardized the procedure for import of frozen meat from India and short listed certain Indian companies for imports. APEDA has been kept informed of these developments.

Exports to India

Lebanese exports to India amounted to US$ 12 million in 2006 as compared to US$ 20 million in 2005, registering a marginal decrease. The Lebanese exports have remained around US$ 14 million since 1999. Indian imports from Lebanon mainly constituted products of chemicals/allied industry (55%) and base metal and its articles (22 %). Details of exports of principal commodities to India from Lebanon during last three calendar years may please be seen at Annexure 'B'.

Trade visits

There has been hardly any visit of trade delegation to this country till recently, although businessmen from India keep on making visits to Lebanon in their individual capacity. However, two significant visits from India have taken place in the recent past.

• 1. Mr. Atul Malhotra R.D. of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited.
• 2. A delegation from Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council.
• 3. A delegation from Raymond group of companies
• 4. A delegation from VIDEOCON Company
• 5.A delegation from NICCO Company
• 6.Mr.R.S.Dixit the Senior Manager & International marketing
• 7.Indian delegation from GAIL (Gas Authority of India Limited)
• 8.An Indian Silk show was organized by The Indian Silk Export Promotion Council, with the support of the Indian Embassy, in Hotel Holiday Inn, Dunes,
• 9.An education delegation coordinated by the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) visited Beirut, Lebanon during 29th and 30th Nov, 2005.
• 10.Mr. Sunil Janardhan the Senior Business manager Asia Pacific of APTECH, one of the leading IT education & training providers, visited Beirut, Lebanon, during 19, 20 and 21 June 2006.
• 11.Indian Delegation from FICCI (Gulf Council) visited Beirut, Lebanon on October 10, 2007.

Tenders

The Embassy of India has taken necessary action with respect of purchasing tender for NTPC (A Government of India Enterprise) of the operation and maintenance of the two gas power plants in the North and South of Beirut.

Electricite Du Liban (EDL) floated a global tender for Design, supply and construction of 220KV high voltage substations in Ba'albeck and Saida (approximate cost US$ 20 Million). The Tender documents were procured by the Embassy and sent to Bharat Heavy Electricity Ltd (BHEL), who showed interest in participating in the bid.

Indian Embassy in Beirut

31, Kantari Street, Sahmarani Building,
P.O. Box No. 113-5240 ( Hamra ) & 11-1764, Beirut - 1107-2090
Telephone: 00-961-1-373539, 372619
Fax: 00-961-1-373538
Email: indembei@dm.net.lb

Trade Bodies

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture in Beirut is the apex body engaged in promotion of trade in the country. In addition, business forums have also been established in each of the two countries with the objective of promoting bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Indo-Lebanese Businessmen Forum was set up in Delhi in November 1996 by Indian businessmen who wished to do business with Lebanon. A similar forum was established by Lebanese businessmen in Beirut in 1997. Addresses of important trade organizations are:

Chamber of Commerce

1. Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture of Beirut & Mount Lebanon

   Sanayeh, CCIAB Building, 2nd floor
   Justinien Street, Beirut (Lebanon)
   Tel: 961-1-353390/1/2/3 Fax: 961-1- 353395
   E-mail : ccib@ccib.org.lb
   Website: http://w.w.w.ccib.org.lb
   Contact: Mr. Ghazi Kraytem, President
   

   Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture of Tripoli

   Bechara El-Khoury Boulevard, CCIAT Building
   Tripoli (Lebanon)
   Tel: 961-6-442772
   Fax: 961-6- 442042
   Contact: Mr. Abdallah Ghandour, President
   

   Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture of SaSaïdada

   Maarouf Saad Boulevard, near Shaab Hospital,
   CCIAS Building, Saïda (Lebanon)
   Tel: 961-7-720123
   Fax: 961-7-722986
   Contact: Mr. Mohamad El Zaatary, President
   

   Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture of Zahle

   Saint Michel Street, CCIAZ Building,
   Zahle (Lebanon)
   Tel: 961- 8-807375 Fax: 961- 8-800050
   Contact: Mr. Edmond Jreisaty

2. Beirut Traders Association

   Sanayeh, CCIAB Building, 4th Floor
   Beirut (Lebanon)
   Tel : 961-1-747886 Fax: 961-1-747887
   E-mail : commerce@inco.com.lb
   Contact Person : Mr. Nadim Assi, President

3. Lebanon India Businessmen Forum

   Dabbous & Itani Building
   Alfred Nobel Street, Hamra
   Beirut (Lebanon)
   Tel : 961-1-354859
   Fax: 961-1-367872
   E-Mail : libforum@hotmail.com
   Contact Person : Mr. Ahmad Ansari, Director General

Technical Assistance

India offers training facilities to Lebanese nationals under the ITEC programme. Lebanese candidates have been to India for training in cooperative banking, journalism, diplomacy, legislative drafting, computers, medicines, auditing and some other courses. Thirteen Lebanese candidates have availed of training under ITEC programme during the period 1993-2003.

In 1995, three Lebanese Air Force personnel attended courses at military training institutes in Bangalore and Tambaram (Tamil Nadu). In July 2002, one officer of the rank of Colonel from the Lebanese Army proceeded to Defence Services Staff College under the Military Training Programme of ITEC.

Annual Exports

US$ 2,283 million (2006)

Annual Imports

US$ 9,398 million (2006)

Items of Exports products

Jewelry, Agricultural & Animal products, Machinery & Appliances Metal & Chemical products, wood & wooden products, Base metals & articles of Base metals

Export destinations

Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Syria, Iraq, USA, Jordan

Items of Imports

Lebanon's 85% of goods requirements are imported including basic food items, cereals, consumer goods, machinery & equipment, automobiles, petroleum products etc.

Major suppliers

Italy, Germany, France, USA, China, Turkey,Switzerland, UK, Russian Federation, Syria

Volume of trade with India:	US$ 130 million(2006)
	US$ 159 million(2005)
India's exports to Lebanon:	US$ 118 million (2006)
	US$ 139 million(2005)
India's imports from Lebanon:	US$ 12 million (2006)
	US$ 20 million(2005)

Items of Import from India

Textiles & Textile products, gem & jewellery, Animal products, plastic & rubber articles, veg. products, Chemicals, machines & machinery tools

Items of Export to India

Chemicals & chemical products, metals, manufactures Textiles & textile products, Machines & electrical equipment

No. of Indians in Lebanon

12,000 (2006)

Total bilateral trade between Lebanon & India (1993-2006) (US$ million)

Year	India Imports	India Exports	Trade Balance (+)
1993	0.50	13.10	12.6
1994	0.40	18.10	17.7
1995	1.20	29.20	28.0
1996	1.10	36.80	35.7
1997	0.90	36.40	35.5
1998	2.70	41.40	38.4
1999	14.70	40.40	25.7
2000	13.90	61.20	47.3
2001	14.20	64.60	50.4
2002	14.30	71.00	56.7
2003	13.80	84.45	76.65
2004	27	114	87
2005	20	139	119
2006	12	118	106

India Lebanon Bilateral Trade By Principal Commodities (2001 2007) - Annexure 'B'

(Thousand US$)

		2006		1/1 - 30/06/2007
S. No.	Commodity	Import	Export	Import	Export
1.	Texttiles & texttiles articles	28	0	14	0
2.	Pearls, Precious Stones & metals	32	0	18	0
3.	Meat & edible meat offal	6	0	4	0
4.	Plastics/rubber articles thereof	10	0	4	0
5.	Vegetable products	6	0	4	0
6.	Articles of stone, paster, cement and glass	3	0	2	0
7.	Base metals and articles of base metals	4	3	3	3
8.	Machinery & mechanical appliances	8	0	4	0
9.	Products of Chemicals or alied industry	9	7	5	2
10.	Prepared foods stuff, beverages and tobacco	2	0	3	0
11.	Mineral products	1	0	0	0
12.	Others	7	2	5	0
	Total	118	12	68	5

As on October 8, 2007

Photographs of Historical Monuments & Tourist Attrataction