5% drop in "Export Plus" programme

According to data released by the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon IDAL, there was a decrease by 5% in the total fruit and vegetable exports from Lebanon within the Support Programme “Export Plus”. Following to an increase by 27% in 2007, the total exported volume in 2008 amounted 446,778 tons.

 
In that period, Syria was the first destination Country with 93,000 tons, that is 21% of total exports, followed by Saudi Arabia with 92,000 tons (20% of the total) and by Kuwait with 65,500 tons (15%).

The main fruit and vegetable types involved in the “Export Plus” Programme were potatoes (122,000 tons, 27% of the total), followed by oranges (98,000 tons, 22% of the total) and by apples (73,000 tons, 16%).

The fact that the “Export Plus” Programme was suspended in the period May-July 2008 could have influenced the drop of 2008 exports.

IDAL lunched the “Export Plus” Programme in August 2001 to support the agricultural sector in Lebanon with the aim of boosting the agricultural exports, of granting conformity with the international standards, the know-how transfer as well as the Lebanese farmers-exporters’ training.