Today, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Business Incubation Association in Tripoli (BIAT) held an event in northern Lebanon to promote the Bank’s Advice for Small Businesses initiative and reinforce its commitment to supporting the competitiveness and sustainable growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Organised in partnership with the Business Incubation Association in Tripoli (BIAT) and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Tripoli and North Lebanon, the event brought together business owners and other key private-sector players with the aim of promoting the Bank’s European Union-backed Advice for Small Businesses initiative, which helps SMEs to improve their market performance, build resilience and ensure sustainable growth. The event also served to highlight two new components of the initiative in Lebanon: the Resource Efficiency and Circularity Programme and the Innovation Programme. These programmes further strengthen the EBRD’s commitment to supporting the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of Lebanese SMEs.
The Resource Efficiency and Circularity Programme aims to enhance the competitiveness of industrial SMEs in Lebanon, particularly in the food and beverage sectors, by promoting resource efficiency and sustainability. Through a combination of capacity building, targeted advisory services and cost-sharing grants, this programme helps businesses to reduce waste and adopt technologies that minimise their environmental impact. A call for applications will be launched annually for companies interested in joining the programme.
In parallel, the Innovation Programme provides technical assistance grants to start-ups and other SMEs that are seeking to invest in research and development (R&D) for the purposes of product or process innovation. This programme connects participating businesses with researchers and R&D institutions, facilitating collaboration to support the implementation of innovative solutions that enhance competitiveness and market relevance.
To date, the Advice for Small Businesses initiative has helped more than 330 SMEs to address market challenges and improve their productivity and growth through 450 projects.
Khalil Dinguizli, Head of Lebanon at the EBRD, said: “Entrepreneurship is the powerhouse of the Lebanese economy, and SMEs play a vital role in driving employment, innovation and resilience. Supporting the private sector is at the core of our mission, and we remain committed to fostering inclusive, sustainable and long-term growth in Lebanon. Through our strong partnerships with the European Union and the business community, we’re extending critical support to SMEs, who need tools, knowledge and resources to improve their efficiency and become more competitive and resilient to future economic shocks.”
Mr. Toufic Dabbousi, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Tripoli and North Lebanon, said: ” We have a responsibility to Lebanon: fostering cooperation with international partners, encouraging investments, and building lasting partnerships. Lebanon is an integral part of the international community, whose culture is rooted in openness and connections.”
Mr. Nasri Mouawad, Chairman and CEO of BIAT added: “North Lebanon does not lack talent or ambition — what’s missing are the right partnerships. This is where the transformative role of the EBRD comes in. Through its programmes, which go beyond financing, the Bank provides strategic advisory, expert mentorship, and access to a global network.” Today, the EBRD is looking to do even more, particularly for medium and large companies in North Lebanon — helping them to scale, innovate, and compete both regionally and internationally. At BIAT, we see this moment as part of a broader movement — a momentum where building together across the region.”
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