USAID Lebanon: From the American People
 

PRESS RELEASE

U.S. GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS LEBANESE ECONOMIC GROWTH

Monday, May 04, 2009

Beirut, Lebanon

As part of its development assistance, the U.S. Government is supporting the economic growth of small and medium sized businesses throughout Lebanon.  Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Lebanon Mission Director Denise A. Herbol witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Agricultural Cooperative Development International-Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI-VOCA) and Gardenia Grain d’Or in Zahle.    

This assistance is part of the $4.5 million, two-year USAID Lebanon Business Linkages Initiatives (LBLI) program, which is being implemented by the Academy for Educational Development, an American non-governmental organization, in partnership with the ACDI-VOCA.   The LBLI program will expand the capacity of small and medium size enterprises increasing their sales and export revenues.  The program targets the agribusiness, tourism, and information and technology sectors.

ACDI-VOCA will provide technical assistance, including training on planting techniques, harvesting methods and packaging to Gardenia Grain d’Or and local farmers.   By targeting farmers and others in agribusiness throughout the Beqaa, Gardenia Grain d’Or will expand its production lines, increase sales revenues by twenty percent and increase the export of Lebanese sourced products by ten percent.

LBLI is only one of the many USAID programs in Lebanon.  Working in the areas of economic growth, education, environment and with Lebanese citizens to promote democracy and good governance, USAID has provided over $486 million in development assistance since 2006.