Jezzine Industrial City

7,000 new job opportunities

Industrial Rural Development Company (IRD) is planning to establish the ‘Jezzine Industrial City’ in Chkadif. The project was initiated by Nehmat Frem, Chairman of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) and a major shareholder of IRD. “Plans have been finalized and construction works will start in few months,” said Wassim Semaan, Secretary of the board of directors at ALI.

IRD will be in charge of developing and constructing all the buildings habilitating roads, and carrying out infrastructure works. Classifying industrial zones and developing plans are also amongst its tasks.

The industrial city will stretch over 600,000 square meters. It is expected to create more than 7,000 jobs. “The main purpose of this industrial city is to revive economic activity and attract investments in rural areas. Our aim is to stop migration towards cities and retain local workers in their hometowns by creating job opportunities,” Semaan said.

Modern urban planning and adequate infrastructure are the basis of Jezzine Industrial City, which will be equipped with a waste treatment, sewage system, and telecommunication platform, as well as a round-the-clock supply of electricity and water. It will also include administrative buildings, public gardens, roads, security and maintenance departments, as well as power and fire extinguishing stations. A bridge will also be built to connect Chkadif with Kfarfalous.

The industrial city will meet international environmental and health standards. It will host industries such as food, paper and print material, electrical machinery, wood products and furniture, and others.

Industrialists can rent plots from IRD based on long- and mid-term contracts. They have the option of renting existing factories or building their own. They can also ask IRD to build their factory according to their requirements. Factories will be rented at competitive rates.

ALI announced in February, the launch of four model industrial cities. The project has tasked four investors with heading the development of each city: Nehmat Frem will establish a city in Jezzine, Khalil Zantout in Nabatieh, Wissam Achour in Zahrani, and Michel Daher in Terbol (Bekaa).

A partnership should be formed with the public sector, as per the decree issued in 2005 about establishing a higher council for industrial cities. Since the council has not been formed yet due to the stalemate of the previous government, industrialists have taken this initiative.