Despite the deepening economic, financial, social, and political crisis in Lebanon, there has been an increase in investments in the industrial sector, with the establishment of new factories and plants.

The pharmaceutical and food industries in Lebanon have attracted approximately $300 million in investments through the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) in the past two years, according to IDAL's President Mazen Sweid.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Industry, which is responsible for granting licenses for the establishment of new factories, there were 98 licenses for new factories in 2020 and 112 licenses in 2021. These licenses covered various sectors, with 101 new factories in the food industry, 61 in the chemical industry, 13 in rubber and plastics, 9 in mining and quarrying, 5 in mining materials, 10 in machinery manufacturing, 20 in water extraction and distribution, 3 in primary metal industries, 2 in paper production, 13 in various equipment manufacturing, 4 in textile products, 4 in publishing, printing, and advertising, 2 in electrical and metal products, 1 in recycling, 10 in construction materials, 6 in furniture and wood manufacturing, 2 in leather production, and 5 in electrical equipment and machinery production.

Additionally, four factories for Lebanese pasta production and five factories for glass and nylon recycling were established, as the Ministry of Industry imposed restrictions on the export of these materials abroad, aiming to utilize them locally.

Caretaker Minister of Industry George Bouchikian mentioned the opening of approximately 400 new factories in the past eight months, with most specializing in food and pharmaceutical production.

He highlighted the importance of the industrial sector in contributing to the economy.

 Director General of the Ministry of Industry Chantal Akel aacknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic led to the opening of factories producing masks and sanitizing materials, although many of them closed after the pandemic ended.

She stated that the new factories established in the past two years have primarily focused on cleaning and food products, with recent openings in the jewelry industry.

Vice President of the Industrialists Association Ziad Bakdash noted that the increase in the number of factories, especially in specific sectors like cleaning materials, does not always benefit the industrial sector as it can lead to increased competition that compromises quality.

This competition may result in some factories incurring significant losses.