Dear colleagues and friends,

In a previous message to you early in 1998, we expressed fear from the effect of stagnation on contracting activities in Lebanon. In fact, the situation had worsened in 1999 with the delay of the approval of 1999 budget until the middle of the year, which consequently delayed the released of new contracts and settlement of contractors dues. Value of these dues had in the meantime, totaled to something like USD 600 million. This was quite burdensome to the contractors whose activities were badly affected, and it threw more responsibilities on the Syndicate to support the contractors at all levels in their relations with the different Government Departments and especially the follow up of their claims. In fact, the Syndicate efforts has resulted in a relatively acceptable solution, if we take into consideration the circumstances that led to the accumulation of such dues, and which are known to all colleagues. However, the recent approval of the 1999 budget by the parliament will certainly alleviate some of the stagnation we have lately experienced.

The modernization program that the Syndicate had initiated in 1998 resulted in a marked improvement in the Syndicate capabilities both at administrative and at staff levels. We had introduced a documentation unit at the syndicate computerizing all administrative and financial information, and now we are on the Internet to answer contractors and other interested parties queries about the Syndicate and all facets of the trade.

We have also bought good spacious premises of some 600m2 area for the Syndicate at:
Victoria Tower
Boulevard Corniche Du Fleuve
Achrafieh - Beirut

Our call on the contractors to participate in the different committees we had formed to enhance the performance of the Syndicate was encouraging. We have thus formed the following committees:

1- Admission & Classification
2- Cost Index
3- Standards & conditions of contracts
4- Relation with public sector
5- Inter professional Relations
6- Information & Communication
7- External Relations
8- Juridical affairs
9- Studies & Statistics
10-Vocational Training

The Syndicate is working with the different Government Departments for establishing proper classification for the contractors, members of the Syndicate, and we hope that will be achieved soon

I am confident that with the cooperation and the efforts of the committees recently formed, we will be able to resolve all the problems and the difficulties that face the Syndicate and its members. That will also tend to smoothen activities and relations with both the private and public sectors.

Fouad Jamil EL KHAZEN
E-mail: fjk@lcsyndicate.com.lb