Parliament approved a loan agreement with Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to fund the Cultural Heritage and Urban Development Program (CHUD) with an additional $27 million.

The loan will finance the implementation of the program in Tyr (Sour) and Tripoli. The project, launched in 2009, promotes in development in five historic cities, including Byblos, Saida, and Baalbeck. The program has been extended until 2017.

AFD will support the second phase of the project, which is composed of restoring old souks in Tripoli and expanding the sea cornice in Tyr. These works are estimated to cost $4.7 million. Funds will also be used to complete roads and the ceiling of Abu Ali River. Studies and supervision will cost around $2 million.

CHUD is implemented in collaboration with the World Bank, which is also allocating $27 million.