Businessmen and diplomats in Lebanon Wednesday emphasized the important role played by family businesses in the economy of countries all over the world.
“More than 90 percent of the Swiss GDP is generated by small- and medium-size companies [SMEs] generally owned by individuals and families. The situation is the same in Lebanon and in the Levant in general,” said Francois Barras, Swiss Ambassador to Lebanon.
Barras’ remarks came during the official launch of the Family Business Network Levant held at the Fattal Foundation.
FBN Levant is a nonprofit and nonsolicitation organization, and a member association of FBN International, Lausanne – Switzerland. It is a platform for discussions and debates in a bid to exchange ideas, experiences and information in an environment of nonsolicitation of products or services. FBN also aims to promote the case for family business toward a more sustainable future.
Barras emphasized the importance of launching such a network by saying that since many families owning businesses throughout the world face similar challenges, FBN constitutes a wonderful asset for these families, enabling them to take advantage of its services with its many national and regional associations which connects supports and serves them.
Chaker Saab, chairman of FBN Levant, said members will benefit from all the offerings of FBN International and from Levant regional events. “In the region, the scientific committee and the board are working on four major events in 2017 that you can benefit from; we are also studying potential partnerships with educational bodies. Next generations who are under 40 will additionally have their own events,” he said.
He added: “Networking with peers, 10,000 FBN members worldwide with the same concerns, and attending local and international plenary sessions, workshops and group discussions with access to exclusive resources, makes a big difference.”
Chaker also noted that family businesses, which constitute up to 85 percent of the private sector, play a big role in the economy and society, especially in these difficult times where they are struggling resiliently.
For her part, Lina Chehab al-Alaili, founder and general manager of FBN Levant, said that the idea of FBN Levant resulted from a need in Levant countries for support where families in business can grow, transition, and learn from each other both nationally and internationally, in areas such as understanding the family business challenge, family and company governance, ownership and management succession planning and others.
