Workshop at Beirut Port to Discuss Integration with the City, Supported by World Bank

As part of the process initiated by the Beirut Port Management and Investment Authority in cooperation with the World Bank to develop a project for integration between the port and the city, a workshop was held at the port dedicated to continuing research into the dimensions of this integration and ways to translate it into a practical vision, with the participation of relevant parties and specialized experts.

The workshop was attended by Marwan Al-Naffi, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager of Beirut Port; Beirut Governor Judge Marwan Abboud; Beirut Municipality President Engineer Ibrahim Zidan; World Bank Project Officer Ban Adlbi; Director General of Land and Sea Transport Mazen Basbous; and Director General of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Rabih Sabra, along with a number of stakeholders and specialists. The proceedings were chaired by Rami Samman, a member of the Beirut Port Board of Directors.

Al-Naffi

In his speech, Al-Naffi affirmed that the workshop constitutes a continuation of work begun some time ago with support from the World Bank to establish a framework for participation, cooperation, and integration between Beirut Port and the city. He noted that this approach has been one of his priorities since assuming responsibility for managing the port, based on the idea that the port "does not just bear the name of the city, but is part of it and within it."

He stressed that what is required today is for the port to open up to its city and integrate with it, reiterating his adoption of the concept of "reconciliation" between the port and Beirut, and confirming that this path is not limited to future plans, studies, and projects, but must be translated into daily work and coordination.

In this context, Al-Naffi emphasized that shaping the future relationship between the port and the city cannot be limited to the port administration, the governorate, and the municipality, but requires listening to various stakeholders and expertise in engineering, urban planning, and community affairs. He stated: "Beirut is the heart, and the port is the lung of the economy," noting that integration between them calls for the participation of all relevant entities and segments of society.

Abboud

For his part, Abboud considered the city and the port inseparable twins, stating that the prosperity of the port reflects on Beirut, just as any harm inflicted upon it extends to the city. He recalled in this context the disaster of the August 4 explosion.

He pointed to the historical role of the port in the growth and development of Beirut, affirming that plans for its development, expansion, and repositioning on the international map carry direct benefits for the capital and Lebanon, which necessitates embracing this path and enhancing cooperation between the port and the city.

Abboud noted that cooperation between the two sides would allow addressing shared files, including port entrances, traffic movement, and the Karantina area, alongside exploring mechanisms to benefit from lands belonging to the port and the municipality in its surroundings. He highlighted the importance of ongoing studies in developing a detailed plan for this integration.

Zidan

In turn, Zidan stressed that developing the relationship between the port and the city must place the interests and rights of Beirut's residents at the core of the project, so that the development of the port serves as a lever for the economy and job opportunities, positively reflecting on local institutions and businesses, contributing to improved traffic flow and urban environment, and strengthening the port's connection to the social and urban fabric of the city, without compromising its operational requirements and efficiency.

He considered that the success of the relationship between the city and the port is not measured solely by implemented projects, but by the extent of their impact on people's lives, dignity, and the future of their city. He expressed hope that the discussions would lead to practical proposals and serious partnership between the municipality, the port administration, and other relevant parties.

Adlbi

For her part, Adlbi confirmed the World Bank's commitment to accompanying the integration path between Beirut Port and the city, appreciating the cooperation with the port administration and other relevant parties, as well as the consultations conducted during the past phase. She considered the project an important opportunity to unify efforts and work jointly.

She explained that integration between the port and the city involves multiple dimensions, and that the goal of the workshop is to delve deeper into these dimensions and determine what they mean specifically in the context of Beirut, in light of the city's uniqueness on one hand and the nature of the port and its operations on the other, allowing for the formulation of an approach suited to the reality of the capital and its port.