The General Manager (GM) of CCIAZ, Youssef Geha, said that the economic cycle in the Bekaa region is improving considerably. “The good quality of our exports is attracting importers,” he said.

The rise in exports came despite a decrease in industrial exports which was offset by the 19 percent increase in agricultural exports.

Industrial exports reached $64 million constituting 23 percent of total exported goods, down 11 percent from 2008, CCIAZ said.

Geha attributed the drop in Industrial exports to the closure of the Unicermaic Plant which represents a “huge economic loss.” The Bekaa region did not export any ceramic products last year while the same products constituted 13 to 26 percent of total exports in previous years.

The figures showed that exports of potato chips topped list of industrial exported goods from the Bekaa region last year at $19 million, up 26 percent from 2008 constituting seven percent of total exported goods.

Exports of canned food products dropped 20 percent to $7 million accounting to 2.47 of the total figure. Exports of paper and cardboard products came in third place at $6 million accounting to 2.18 percent of the total figure, compared to $8 million last year, the figures showed.

Agricultural exports to 25 countries increased 69.9 percent to $194 million, CCIAZ’s figures showed. Geha said that agricultural products are exported mainly from the West and Mid Bekaa districts. The two areas mainly export grapes, cherries, and apples. 

Geha said that the increase in agricultural exports was driven by the improving quality of agricultural products which are monitored by the “Export Plus” program. He said that this reason has helped the region’s exporters preserve confidence of importers despite the issue that made headlines in recent months about the usage of pesticide residues above the acceptable limit by farmers.

The figures showed that the value of re-exports reached $18 million constituting six percent of total exports compared to $20 million in 2008.

Saudi Arabia topped list of importing countries, purchasing $75 million worth of products or 27 percent of the total, down 15 percent from 2008. CCIAZ said that exports to KSA  “dropped as the kingdom has adopted a new policy to achieve self food security through producing its own food.”

Syria came in second place importing $72 million worth of products in 2009 or 26 percent of total, up 33 percent from 2008, followed by Egypt which imported $48 million of total products, up 69 percent from 2008.

Geha expected exports to rise further in 2010. He said that the interest in Bekaa’s products is rising drastically since 2010 kicked off.