The head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, received, at the party’s general headquarters in Maarab, a delegation from the Industrialists’ Association in the Bekaa, headed by Nicolas Abu Faisal, in the presence of members of the “Strong Republic” bloc, MPs George Akis and Elias Stephan, the mayor of Zahle - Al-Mu’allaqa - Taanayel, Salim Ghazaleh, the coordinator of the Lebanese Forces Party in the region, Charbel Al-Saqr, and former coordinator Alain Mounir. During the meeting, the delegation presented to the head of the “Forces” the most prominent challenges facing the industrial sector in the Bekaa region, especially the chronic problems that hinder the growth of Lebanese industry, most notably the weakness of official support for industrialists, the absence of foreign markets capable of distributing production, and the absence of a free economic zone in the Bekaa that attracts investments and reduces operational burdens, in addition to the limited incentives and facilities that the sector needs to be able to compete in the local and foreign markets. The meeting witnessed an extensive discussion on various ways to address these challenges. Practical mechanisms for cooperation between the public and private sectors were discussed, which would contribute to supporting national industry and enhancing its role as a basic pillar of economic growth and job creation, especially in light of the delicate economic conditions that Lebanon is going through. In this context, Geagea proposed forming a joint committee that includes representatives of the Industrialists Association in the Bekaa, the municipality of Zahle - Al-Muallaqa - Taanayel, and representatives George Akis and Elias Stephan, whose mission will be to follow up on the files at hand, develop an integrated vision for possible solutions, and work to communicate with the concerned official authorities to push these demands forward and turn them into executive steps. Geagea stressed that the industrial sector constitutes one of the pillars of the Lebanese economy, considering that supporting industrialists must be at the core of the state’s priorities because of this sector’s ability to move the wheel of production, increase exports, secure job opportunities, and contribute to reducing economic bleeding and migration. He also saluted the Lebanese industrialists in general, and the Bekaa industrialists in particular, for their steadfastness and their insistence on continuing production despite the exceptional circumstances that Lebanon went through during the past years, whether in light of the unprecedented financial, economic and monetary collapse, or during the last phase that witnessed the war and the accompanying disturbances and negative repercussions on the various productive sectors. He pointed out that the ability of industrialists to maintain their institutions and continue working, despite the scarcity of capabilities and the absence of official support, reflects the will of the Lebanese to survive and produce, and confirms that true economic advancement begins with supporting the productive sectors, at the forefront of which is industry, by providing a sound investment environment, expanding export markets, and approving the necessary incentives that enable Lebanese factories to strengthen their presence in regional and international markets. At the end of the meeting, Abu Faisal presented the forces chief with his book, “Armenia: Death and Life Renewed.”