British Ambassador Visits Beirut Port

In his first official activity following the presentation of his credentials to President Michel Suleiman, British Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher visited Beirut Container Terminal Consortium (BCTC) at Beirut port, accompanied by Head of Trade and Investment Paul Khawaja. Ziad Kanaan, board member and Karen Bellamy, General Manager of BCTC presented an overview of the work that the company has been doing over the past seven years.

Bellamy explained the role of the British company and its administration of the port of Beirut over the past years in which it became one of the top most important 100 ports in the world.

They have also been able to secure 3000 job opportunities to Lebanese nationals and invested in more than $5 million in training, capacity building through British experts.

Following his visit, Fletcher said: “I was delighted to visit BCTC, to see British and Lebanese business working so successfully in partnership.”

“From the controls of a 50 foot crane, I got (literally) a great overview of the impressive operation,” he added.

“The port demonstrates the opportunities that exist in Lebanon for UK investors. But it also represents the UK commitment to the infrastructure that can best underpin Lebanese political and economic stability, through generating income and facilitating trade, all highly appropriate for two dynamic nations that have always been innovative traders,” he continued.

Fletcher’s visit falls within a series of calls and meetings aimed at shedding light on the economic and investment sectors in Lebanon that the UK is taking a prominent role in.