SRI International signed an agreement with USAID in Lebanon to implement the "Expanding Economic Opportunities Project" in rural Lebanon, working with Lebanese NGO INMA. The project aims to support economic development and reduce rural emigration by creating new employment and income opportunities. Key activities include promoting Lebanese products at trade shows; organizing workshops on skills like packaging and labeling; establishing IT centers; and focusing on tourism through publications, a national tourism website, and road signs.

1. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon Implemented by: Funded by:

2. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon SRI International is one of the world’s largest and most respected research and consulting organizations. Founded in 1946 as the Stanford Research Institute, SRI is a nonprofit, independent, problem-solving corporation that provides a broad spectrum of basic and applied research and consulting services to business and government clients throughout the world.

3. Working in partnership with INMA (Social and Cultural Development Association), a Beirut-based non-profit non-governmental organization with a wide scope of activities that service cluster of villages and specific neighborhoods throughout Lebanon, Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon SRI’s goal is to support efforts to revive economic development in rural Lebanon by helping create, in a sustainable manner, opportunities for increased employment and income for people living outside the main urban areas of the country, and in so doing help create conditions for reducing the undesirable trend of emigration from these areas to the cities and overseas. SRI & INMA In November 2002, SRI International signed a cooperative agreement with the United States Agency for International Development in Lebanon (USAID) to implement ‘Expanding Economic Opportunities Project’ in rural Lebanon.

4. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon Projects One example of our activities in promotion and product development is OLIVE OIL promotion New York Tradition du Liban Olive oil tasting Agriculture: Promotion & Product Development An Overview of projects and activities:

5. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon One example of marketing activities is FOOD LABELING for better promotion of Lebanese products Agriculture: Marketing An Overview of projects and activities: Projects

6. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon One example of our activities in marketing and export promotion in agri-business is our participation in TRADE SHOWS to promote Lebanon’s agricultural products PARIS Ethnic Food Show NEW YORK Fancy Food Show GERMANY Cologne ANUGA Food Show Agriculture: Marketing & Export Promotion in Agri-business Projects An Overview of projects and activities:

7. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon One example of our technical assistantship programs is our organization of WORKSHOPS to assist the Lebanese producers in better developing their skills Abou Assouad South Farmer Workshop Massoudiyye Akkar Potato Fertilization workshop Horeca Packaging and Labeling for Export Success Workshop Agriculture: Technical Assistance Projects An Overview of projects and activities:

8. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon One example of our activities in Information Technology is our establishment of PIPOP and ICT CENTERS in different regions across Lebanon Ras Al Metn PiPOP Tannourine PiPOP IT Support Projects An Overview of projects and activities:

9. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon Tourism Over the course of its presence in Lebanon, SRI International has given particular attention and concentration on TOURISM as a significant sector that contributes to the economic development of the country. Among its projects are the following: Tanourine reserve Afqa reserve Helping Tourism Business Grow

10. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon PROMENADE BROCHURE : developed in association with the Ministry of Tourism, hotel and restaurants syndicates, mayors and municipalities most comprehensive tourism information available for Lebanon's villages, including historical background and maps of natural and cultural attractions, lodging, restaurants, recreation, and shopping in rural villages across the country consists of 4 brochures in Arabic and English covering the North, South, Mount Lebanon and the Bekaa regions Tourism Publications

11. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon PROMENADE BROCHURE : NATURE RESERVES provide practical visitor information, a guide to interesting flora and fauna found in the reserves, user-friendly trail maps, and a list of recreational activities available within and around the reserves experience the quiet, natural beauty of 6 nature reserves across the country. Tourism Publications

12. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon HIDDEN LEBANON BROCHURE general information about Lebanon including its natural aspect (outdoor adventure, winter sports, nature and environment, agriculture and rural heritage), cultural Lebanon (history and ancient civilization, religious and spiritual heritage, Lebanese cuisine and crafts), listing of the world heritage sites and suggestions of tour packages, as well as promoting tour organizers and local tourism providers promotes Lebanon in international markets highlights unique and off-the-beaten path tourism attractions in Lebanon Tourism Publications

13. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon DISCOVER LEBANON TOURS discover some of Lebanon’s “best-kept secret” tourism locations and outdoor adventure activities. Presented in a colorful four-month calendar format, the Discover Lebanon Tours present numerous options for families and friends planning short getaways this fall. brings together 34 innovative tour programs created by 9 tour operators developed along the themes of “nature and adventure” and “cultural discovery” Tourism Publications

14. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE MAPS printed in English and Arabic, the maps are free to visitors, so they can fully explore and appreciate the historical and cultural richness of each site 1st of their kind to be broadly distributed within Lebanon designed to enhance visitors experiences at Lebanon’s key tourism attractions and to market these attractions more effectively Tourism Publications

15. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon National Tourism Website www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb ‘ full-service’ website that will allow prospective tourists to learn about tourism opportunities in Lebanon a comprehensive database of Lebanon’s tourism users to search for specific attractions, lodging, dining, shopping, and other activities in cities, villages, and rural areas, and it connects users with tour operators who can help plan their trips Tourism Website

16. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon Road Signs Road signs were developed to assist the tourists on their way to major touristic sites across Lebanon Tourism

17. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon Other activities to promote tourism Outdoor activities Tourism

18. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon Other activities: Garden Show Beirut Hippodrome Garden Show 2005 Garden Show Tourism Agriculture 2007 Garden Show Tourism Agriculture - 2007 Other Activities

19. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon Other activities: Horeca Horeca Olive Oil Contest Awards Distribution - 2007 Beirut Biel Horeca National Olive Oil Contest - 2006 Horeca SRI Stand Food Producers - 2007 Other Activities

20. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon Other activities: Souq Al-Tayeb Souq Al-Tayeb Jbeil 2007 Souq Al-Tayeb Jbeil 2007 Souq Al-Tayeb Samek Loubnan - 2007 Other Activities

21. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon Other projects: Ideal Home Show - Dubai 2007 Other Projects

22. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon SRI is working with its associates and INMA to encourage cooperation within and between sectors, the formulation of better policies and programs that will facilitate and enable the private sector to expand its operations and services to rural Lebanon, and more openness and transparency between rural and urban businesses. In 2002, SRI’s work in Lebanon entered a new phase, focusing on full-scale implementation of high-priority initiatives identified in the initial stages of the project. Article - Cedar wings - 2004 Coffee News - 2005 Article - Horeca News- 2007 Article - Telegraph – March 2007