press releases 2007

USAID Continues To Support Enhanced Food Production

December 7, 2007

Lebanon’s first National Food Festival begins today and goes until Sunday, December 9.  The festival is at the Biel Center from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The National Food Festival, sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, will celebrate Lebanese culture and encourage the revival of traditional regional cuisine. “We look forward to celebrating Lebanon’s long and continuing tradition of excellent food and hospitality,” said Mrs. Nada Sardouk, Director General at the Ministry of Tourism.  In addition to offering myriad opportunities to sample delicious Lebanese cuisine, the festival features food heritage activities, including cooking demonstrations of traditional Lebanese dishes both savory and sweet, women’s cooking competitions and coffee roasting demonstrations by producers from the Bekaa valley.

“For many years, USAID has supported the development of the Lebanese agricultural sector and the promotion of the food and tourism sectors in Lebanon. We believe that these sectors, rooted in Lebanon’s competitive advantage, have great economic and export potential for the country, as well as for generating income opportunities for the rural populations in Lebanon”, said Mr. Raouf Youssef, USAID/Lebanon Mission Director.   Lebanon’s National Food Festival is a joint initiative of SRI International/INMA, and ACDI/VOCA, as part of the USAID-financed “Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon Project,” supporting the development of agribusiness, tourism and small and medium enterprises in the rural areas of Lebanon. 

Since 1951, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has worked in Lebanon funding development projects to benefit Lebanese citizens. USAID’s program promotes economic opportunities, job creation, good governance and environmental policies and practices in rural Lebanon. USAID strengthens the relationship between the people of Lebanon and the people of the United States, and promotes a shared vision of democracy and socio-economic development.