Industrial licenses increased by 17 percent

Food factories top the list

Industrial licenses issued by the Ministry of Industry increased by about 17 percent to 415 last year, compared with 345, in 2012.

The Mount Lebanon governorate had the highest share of licenses for new factories (57 percent), followed by the Bekaa (17 percent), and the South (12 percent).

According to the Ministry, most licenses were for light industries. Of the licenses, 40 percent concerned fourth category factories, the lightest type of industry, and 38.5 percent concerned third category factories. Categories one and two are for heavy or semi-heavy industries.

About 24 percent of all factory licenses went to the food industry, followed by 16 percent for construction materials, and eight percent for electronics. Mounir Bsat, Head of the Syndicate of Food Industries, said: “The reason behind establishing more industrial factories is due to the increase in the consumption from locals, as well as for exports.”

Bsat said that a part of the licenses went to Syrian factories that opened recently in the local market.