US Ambassador Visits Tripoli: Lebanon Deserves to Seize Opportunities for Recovery

The President of the Tripoli and North Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Tawfiq Dubissi, received US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, accompanied by a delegation from the embassy including Deputy Chief of Mission Keith Hanigan, Commercial Office Head Nouman Tayyar, Political Officer Maria Toma, Project Management Specialist Rana Halou, and Political Advisor Jessie Savou. The meeting was attended by Chamber Vice Presidents Ibrahim Fawaz and Nakhil Yamin, Treasurer Bassam Al-Rahouli, Board Members Hossam Qubaitar, Samer Hallab, Mustafa Al-Yamiq, Khadr Habib, Mahmoud Jabado, and George Najjar, General Manager Linda Sultan, Quality Labs Director Dr. Khaled Al-Omari, and "Bayat" Association President Nasri Maaouad.

Dubissi

Dubissi welcomed Ambassador Issa and his delegation, expressing appreciation for "the convergence embodied by His Excellency between his Lebanese identity and American affiliation, symbolizing bridges of communication between Lebanon and the United States and expanding areas of cooperation, based on the capabilities Lebanon possesses and the human, scientific, cultural, economic, and geographical potentials stored in Greater Tripoli and its surroundings, which qualify it to play a pivotal role in the Eastern Mediterranean economy and enhance opportunities for development, stability, and prosperity in Lebanon."

Dubissi indicated that "the 'Greater Tripoli' project is based on an integrated national strategic vision aimed at transforming available capabilities into productive projects and sustainable investment opportunities, leveraging Lebanon's geographical location and the integration of its vital facilities, with the goal of adopting it as Lebanon's economic capital and making it an open economic and investment platform towards the United States, opening the field for investments capable of moving the economy and creating job opportunities, starting from the conviction that Lebanese economic recovery is not achieved by aid alone, but by productive investments, executable projects, and effective partnership between the public and private sectors."

Dubissi valued "the role played by Ambassador Issa in representing his country and his ability to grasp the Lebanese file, his success in strengthening Lebanese-American relations and expanding cooperation, following Lebanese developments from various aspects, and exerting efforts to ensure Lebanon enjoys security and stability and helping it regain its vitality, as well as the position taken by US President Donald Trump regarding the Lebanese file and the attention he pays to its developments within the framework of efforts to help strengthen its security and stability. This is what we want in Lebanon, Your Excellency, because we are seekers of peace."

Issa

For his part, Ambassador Issa expressed his pleasure at being at the Tripoli and North Lebanon Chamber, noting that "Lebanon is a country whose civilizational roots strike deep into history, and with its distinguished human and cultural energies, it is capable of restoring its status when national will is available," affirming that "Lebanon deserves to benefit from real opportunities for recovery and requires looking at its elements of strength, but the pivotal issue remains that Lebanese people must be convinced that peace is a vital element for them and that it is in everyone's interest to enjoy it."

He saw that the Greater Tripoli Chamber "possesses a comprehensive master plan based on a vision for a strategic project, but this plan, despite its vital importance, calls for studying the first step towards launching it into the future," noting that "demanding to attract investors and move the wheel of investment in Lebanon is a legitimate matter that requires preparing the economic, financial, and banking environment to realize those requirements."

The US Ambassador concluded by indicating that he felt at the Greater Tripoli Chamber "a sense and vision confirming Tripoli's independent and self-sufficient identity, characterized by its ability to transform available opportunities into tangible projects."

Afterwards, a dialogue took place between Issa and the participants, centered on "ways to strengthen Lebanese-American relations from Greater Tripoli" and meetings with the US Ambassador could be open to the future to consolidate cooperation and partnership between the Lebanese and American sides.

In conclusion, Issa toured the Chamber's quality labs, the Industrial Development Center, and agricultural research and food safety centers, and was presented with a collection of symbolic gifts reflecting the quality and diversity of leading food industry products in North Lebanon.