Lebanon

<p>The South Mediterranean region faces a range of economic challenges, including high youth unemployment, reliance on traditional sectors, and uneven economic growth. With 55% of the population under 30 and youth unemployment rates between 30-40%, addressing this issue is critical, especially as many jobs are concentrated in low-productivity sectors.</p><p>Political instability, fragmented regulatory frameworks, and environmental challenges further complicate efforts to build a robust digital economy. Harmonizing regulations with EU standards, enhancing digital skills, and fostering cooperation between public and private sectors are critical for unlocking the region&rsquo;s digital trade potential.</p><p>Recognizing the potential of digital trade to address regional and national challenges and promote development, this project seeks to address these issues on a regional scale, by implementing pilot digital trade initiatives, facilitating dialogue and collaboration among the countries in the region, and laying the groundwork for regulatory convergence with EU standards. Albeit regional in nature, the project will work on strengthening e-commerce and digital trade capacities at national level in 4 targeted countries: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. This national level efforts seek to support public and private sector actors in improving framework conditions and realizing the sustainable development potential of e-commerce and digital trade.<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">^{<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->^[1]}</a> The support at national levels is at the same instrumental to identifying and further developing good practices to be shared at regional level and to foster regional exchange on specific issues, including regulatory convergence. The initiatives at national level are thus complemented by regional exchanges and peer-learning, which in turn feeds in and informs back the national efforts. The national and regional dimensions of the project are accordingly complementary and synergetic.</p><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><p><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1] According to the OECD, digital trade refers to &ldquo;all international trade that is digitally ordered and/or digitally delivered (s.&nbsp;</a><a href="https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/trade/handbook-on-measuring-digital-trad… on Measuring Digital Trade, Second Edition | READ online (oecd-ilibrary.org)</a>, pp.12), whereas e-commerce refers to &ldquo;the sale or purchase of goods or services, conducted over computer networks by methods specifically designed for the purpose of receiving or placing orders (s. <a href="https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/1885800a-en/index.html?itemId=/cont…;

<p>In 2016, the establishment of the Arab Countries Trade and Investment Organisations Network (ACTION) under the AfTIAS programme marked a pivotal step towards fostering Arab regional integration. ACTION emerged from the collective ambition of Arab nations to enhance their trade and investment landscape, driven by a mutual commitment to prosperity and interconnectedness within the region.</p><p>Following its formation, ACTION initiated its journey with a key meeting in Dubai. This event was crucial in defining the network&rsquo;s structure and operational guidelines, effectively transforming ACTION from a concept to a functioning entity.</p><p>In 2018, a significant gathering took place in Paris, offering a valuable chance for reflection, reassessment, and revitalization of the network&rsquo;s strategies and direction.</p><p>ACTION stands at a crossroads, poised to redefine its trajectory in an ever-changing global landscape. The Abu Dhabi workshop is not merely a gathering; it is a clarion call for strategic introspection and visionary planning.</p><p>The focus will be on conducting a comprehensive reassessment of the network&rsquo;s current state, identifying areas ripe for innovation and improvement. This exercise is crucial in charting a course that not only addresses the immediate needs of the region but also positions ACTION as a leader in the global trade arena.</p><p>Furthermore, the workshop will emphasize the strengthening of bonds between member TIPOs. In a world where economic fortunes are increasingly intertwined, fostering unity and cohesion within the network is paramount. This reinforced solidarity will be the cornerstone of more effective and impactful regional trade initiatives.</p><p>A significant deliverable of this workshop will be the development of a future roadmap. This roadmap will not just be a strategic document; it will be a manifesto of ACTION&apos;s aspirations and commitments for the coming years. It will outline specific goals, milestones, and initiatives that will propel the network towards new heights of success and influence.</p>

<p>In view of the challenges to the trade of agricultural products in the NENA region, ITC will provide support<strong>&nbsp;to enhance intra-regional trade in selected agricultural value chains by removing obstacles to export, transit and import.</strong></p><p>The main objectives of this initiative are:</p><ul><li>To improve the livelihood of small-scale producers by unleashing new business opportunities through exports to regional markets</li><li>To reduce the cost of agricultural products for populations in NENA countries that are dependent on imports.</li></ul>

<p>The Euromed Trade and Investment Facilitation Mechanism project (TIFM) phase II builds on the success of phase I, implemented by ITC between Jan. 2014 and Jun. 2017. &nbsp;</p><p>On 30^th June 2017, ITC launched the Euromed Trade Helpdesk, an online tool and problem-solving network enhancing regional trade transparency. In March 2018, Trade Ministers from the Mediterranean region endorsed the Helpdesk as a pioneering tool for comprehensive regional trade intelligence. During the first 3 years of its existence, the Helpdesk attracted more than 34,000 users who accessed transparent and reliable market information.&nbsp;</p><p>Following positive feedback and requests for more information and engagement, ITC designed TIFM II to include more data, covering investment and trade in services, to deepen the understanding of trade obstacles in the region, and to strengthen the sustainability and ownership of the initiative.</p><p>ITC will implement this new phase in collaboration with public and private sectors in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia, providing support by fostering regional trade integration, reducing risks within global value chains, and addressing COVID-19 challenges.</p>

<p>This project is targeting women owned businesses (WOBs) in the Apparel, Accessories and Home D&eacute;cor sector from Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Senegal, and South Africa.<span>&nbsp;It</span> aims to support income generation and job creation for women owned businesses in the Apparel, Accessories and Home D&eacute;cor sector by:</p><ul type="disc"><li>Creating a more supportive ecosystem of partners and institutions to help the growth of women&apos;s economic empowerment initiatives and activities;</li><li>Increasing the competitiveness of women owned businesses in the sector;</li><li>Creating new market linkage<strong>&nbsp;</strong>opportunities for women owned businesses in the sector.</li></ul>