20 SMEs Graduate from Food Safety Capacity Building Program in Lebanon, Enhancing Export Readiness and Market Access

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, is proud to announce the successful completion of the food safety capacity building program for 20 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Lebanon. This program is a vital component of the comprehensive capacity building initiative known as TRAQ (TRAde and Quality), which aims to enhance export readiness and food safety among SMEs.

The TRAQ program, implemented by UNIDO, is part of the broader project titled “Enhancing Accreditation Value Chain in the Arab Region” supported by the Kingdom of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA). This project aims to strengthen the regional accreditation infrastructure and promote international recognition for national accreditation bodies, ultimately benefiting SMEs by upgrading the quality infrastructure and accreditation system.

Over the course of May to July 2023, UNIDO directly implemented the food safety capacity building program, providing these 20 Lebanese SMEs with essential knowledge and tools to meet international food safety standards. Simultaneously, a parallel activity on export readiness and business-to-business (B2B) engagement was undertaken by a sub-contracted national entity in Lebanon. By integrating these two activities, the program sought to enhance the competitiveness of the participating SMEs in both local and international markets.

The graduation ceremony, marking the successful completion of the program, took place on July 7, 2023, at the Swedish Residence under the patronage of H.E. Ms. Ann Dismorr, Swedish Ambassador to Lebanon. The event brought together key stakeholders, including the Ambassador of Sweden, representatives from the Ministry of Industry, in addition to representatives from several embassies, ministries, UN agencies, international organizations, private and public sector institutions to celebrate the achievements of the participating SMEs.

The food safety capacity building program is part of a broader effort to support 150 Food SMEs across six Arab countries, including Lebanon, on various aspects such as quality enhancement, food safety compliance, and market access facilitation, with a particular focus on promoting intraregional trade within Arab markets.

UNIDO remains committed to collaborate with its member states and development partners on supporting economic growth, fostering innovation, and facilitating trade for SMEs and hence paving the way for sustainable and inclusive industrial development.