The Regie’s President and General Manager Mr. Nassif Seklaoui received in his office in Hadath a delegation of Betoulei, Tyre, presided by the municipal chief Mr. Abdel Raouf Farhat. Seklaoui offered the delegation a contribution from the Regie to pave a road in the village.
The delegation underlined the Regie’s efforts, stressing its numerous achievements.
Seklaoui, in turn, ensured the Regie’s commitment to support citizens of different Lebanese villages within the frame of its developmental plan.
In his speech, Minister Khalil said: This is one of the distinguished points and features of the relations between government institutions and civil society organizations and also between municipalities and mayors (mukhtars) in particular. It is a pioneering experiment in transforming the available resources of one institution into a real developmental work within the framework of a strategy that was approved after being scientifically prepared at Regie and after garnering the required budget approval from the administration.
He also stated that “a lot of people consider that the work of Regie is only related to selling and receiving tobacco products and managing the import and export of tobacco products; whereas this institution has proved that it can develop its work to reach the level of efficient and real participation in the sustainable development at the level of the entire country.”
Minister Khalil added that Regie always has plans aimed at developing the institutions and the contribution and participation with various local organs.
On another note, Minister Khalil mentioned that the necessities of municipalities and towns nowadays are enormous and such projects alone are not enough, but when they are proposed and implemented by a side that is not directly responsible of supporting the municipalities, then this contribution is more important and has greater value than any other initiative.
“We know that the municipal challenges are overwhelming and the municipalities are facing a lot of problems with regards to funding their projects but the Ministry of Finance is committed to pay periodically the financial incomes of the mobile phones, and whenever we receive the first payment from the Ministry of Telecommunications, we will directly transfer it to the municipalities, without allowing any delays.”
The minister also said: “The municipal dues from the Independent Municipal Fund that are accumulated from 2017 will be paid between October and November and we are also committed to transfer them directly to the municipalities.”
In this regard, he reminded that the mentioned issues are part of the responsibilities of political leaders in the country, stressing that “the major challenge we currently face is the stability and regularity of the political situation in the country and the functioning of institutions.”
In this context, he emphasized the importance of speeding up the formation of a cabinet capable of meeting the necessities of the people and prioritizing these necessities so it can take the right decisions aimed at enhancing the economic and financial situation that will eventually lead to more developmental projects; thus, will improve the economy, increase the investments and increase the growth.
“Should we remain in the same situation as now, we then stand before serious indicators with respect to the growth level in the country compared to the large commitments and our deficit and the proportion of our debt and also with respect to the promised projects at the international level; whether Cedar Conference or other commitments prepared by the Lebanese government in cooperation with other supporting international organs.”
Regarding the 14 projects funded by Regie, Khalil said that they are factors of assistance that give a key-role to municipalities that do not have a stable financial situation, stressing that these projects cover various agricultural, educational, and environmental aspects as well as aspects related to each town solely.
Wrapping his speech, the minister assured that “Regie will always conduct projects as such and will always allocate budgets aimed at increasing the number of beneficiaries in the upcoming years.”