Samar Yahya

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — A series of cultural and business events to promote Saudi-Lebanese bilateral relations came to a close Wednesday and was considered a huge success.



Lebanon Week, which opened on Saturday, was the first of its kind event to be held in Jeddah.



Lebanese Consul General Ziad Atallah said: “The idea began when presidents of chambers of commerce in Jeddah and Lebanon had a meeting in Jeddah and discussed the opportunities of holding a major business exhibition in Jeddah."



The inauguration event of Lebanon Week, at Jeddah Center for Forums and Events, played host to a large delegation headed by Lebanese Economy and Trade Minister Nicholas Nahas, Saudi Ambassador in Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri, Lebanese Ambassador to the Kingdom Abdul Sattar Issa, President of the Lebanese Chambers Council Mohammad Shuqair, Deputy Chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mazen Batterjee and Attallah.



Other activities included a Lebanese movie night at the Lebanese Consulate General that featured a film about the country’s post-war society and a home handicrafts exhibition by the Lebanese community in Jeddah that hosted 45 exhibitors.



Atallah said: “Lebanon Week focuses on culture, youth, the Lebanese community. Preparations started four months ago and all the paperwork got done in due course. We got support from our embassy in Riyadh and Ambassador Abdul Sattar Issa.



“The three main challenges in organizing the week were promoting the idea, which we overcame by announcing the event in a press conference in Beirut.



“We called for exhibitors where we faced no problem and we attracted 250 exhibitors. The third challenge was to call as many visitors as possible to attend the exhibition.



“The number of people and number of businesses established during Lebanon Week are the two main key performance indicators to measure the success of the exhibition.”