Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel and MP Elias Hankach met with a delegation from the Metn Industrialists’ Association and several municipal heads from the Metn district to discuss ways to strengthen collaboration between local industries and municipalities, with the aim of fostering a supportive environment for production sectors and achieving sustainable economic development.

The meeting brought together a number of municipal leaders, including Bikfaya Mayor Nicole Gemayel, Jdeideh–Bouchrieh–Sed Mayor Auguste Bakhos, Roumieh Mayor Hanna Zeynoun, Ain Saadeh Mayor Maurice El Asmar, and Mazraat Yachouh Mayor Joseph Habbou. Industrial sector representatives included Association of North Maten Industrialists President Charles Müller, Vice President of the Association of Industrialists in Lebanon, Ziad Bekdache, and members Ibrahim Sader, Antoine Baroud, Taleb Saad, Samy Assaf, Thierry Abi Nader, George Najjar, Alexandre Barka, and Dory Bekaii. Also in attendance were Kataeb Northern Metn District Head Michel Hrawi and Kataeb Business Council President Khalil Dagher.

Participants agreed on a set of practical measures, including launching a comprehensive field survey to map local factories and identify their needs, holding an expanded parliamentary meeting to discuss potential amendments to the tax law on non-residential electricity generators, and addressing administrative barriers that hinder development projects.

The meeting also emphasized the need to regulate unlicensed factories by developing a clear legal framework to regularize their status and ensure compliance with environmental and health standards. The move aims to protect the rights of legitimate industrialists and prevent unfair competition in the domestic market.

Gemayel underscored the importance of joint efforts between municipalities and the industrial sector to build a promising economic landscape, reaffirming his full commitment to following up on the matter with the relevant authorities.

He also paid tribute to his late brother, Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, who “believed that industry is the beating heart of the Lebanese economy.” Quoting him, Gemayel said: “Do you love Lebanon? Then love its industry.” He added that this motto should remain a guiding principle to restore value to a sector that represents a true hope for recovery and dignified living.

For his part, MP Elias Hankach said the industrial sector in Lebanon continues to demonstrate resilience and productivity despite difficult conditions.

“What is needed today is to create a nurturing environment for this sector, starting with infrastructure and services and extending to incentive policies from the state,” he said.

Hankach noted that the meeting with industrialists and municipalities marks the start of a sustained cooperation process aimed at building a genuine partnership through concrete steps.

“Our goal is to turn the Metn district into a model area for industry and development,” he added, pointing out that around 25 percent of Lebanon’s factories are located in Metn.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to maintain coordination among all stakeholders to ensure the implementation of the agreed measures and overcome obstacles to industrial and developmental progress in the region.