ILO hosts strategic roundtable to strengthen Lebanon’s stone fruit sector

© ILO

© ILO

Beirut (ILO News)- As part of ongoing efforts to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of Lebanon’s agriculture sector, the International Labour Organization (ILO)—through its Bouzour project—hosted a roundtable focused on the country’s stone fruit sector.

Held at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon (CCIA-BML), and organized in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Zahle and Bekaa (CCIAZ), the roundtable brought together key stakeholders to address challenges and explore strategic opportunities for crops such as cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, and apricots.

The roundtable served as a platform to:

• Facilitate dialogue across the stone fruit value chain
• Strengthen market access and export readiness
• Identify certification and compliance gaps for international markets
• Encourage coordination and technical support for producers and exporters

Participants included export-oriented agricultural companies, technical experts, and representatives from both chambers of commerce. A central component of the discussion was the Export Certification initiative, currently being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, in coordination with regional chambers and supported under the Bouzour project. The initiative is aimed at improving compliance with international standards to enable better access to European Union markets.

The ILO, through Bouzour, continues to support a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector in Lebanon by promoting decent work, building institutional partnerships, and fostering economic opportunities in rural communities.