This year, the photography competition organized by La Regie Libanaise Des Tabacs Et Tombacs (Regie), known by the name “Manchar Souwar” took a different approach. The competition participated for the first time in the Beirut Art Fair 2018 that was launched under the auspices of Prime Minister Saad Hariri and in the presence of official, security, economic, and cultural figures among them the Director General of Regie Engineer Nassif Seklaoui, Engineer Georges Hobeika, Doctor Issam Salman, and Engineer Mazen Abboud.
The Art Fair which is remaining until 23 September at the Seaside Arena (known as BIEL formerly) at Beirut Central District, has a part that includes photos from the competitions of 2016 and 2017 and from there, the 3rd version of the competition will be launched. This version will revolve around “women who work in tobacco planting” as a tribute to her efforts and to her participation in the continuity of this agricultural activity.
This developmental initiative launched by Regie in 2016 as part of its sustainable development strategy aims at embracing innovators and supporting artistic, intellectual, and photographic talents, whether amateurs or professionals. It also aims at enhancing the capabilities of the youths, shedding light on the importance of the agricultural sector, socially and economically, making it possible to know more about tobacco planting in order to dive into we, such remarkable progress would not have been attainable. Seklaoui announced an upcoming press conference to showcase the seized equipment and goods. Furthermore, Seklaoui revealed that fines resulting from raids and confiscation in four months during 2024 totaled 50 billion Lebanese Pounds.