The Ministry of Industry signed a cooperation agreement with the American University of Beirut (AUB), the National Council for Scientific Research and the Lebanese Industrial Research Achievements program (LIRA). The agreement aims to improve the quality of industrial research in Lebanon and to generate industrial products of high economic value. In parallel, the agreement seeks to provide AUB students with the needed platform to conduct industrial research relevant to their academic objectives. AUB stated that the deal would keep the university's academic programs relevant to the needs of the industrial sector. The industrial sector accounted for 7% of GDP, according to the latest available official figures, and industrial exports increased by 7% to $3.5bn in 2011.
Byblos Bank – Lebanon This Week
