ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub

From developing the skills of young people who face uncertain employment prospects to mentoring local start-ups and entrepreneurs, the ICC/UNESCWA Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub is devoted to improving the livelihoods of citizens in Lebanon and the rest of the region as a whole.

Supporting Lebanon’s rebuild

The ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub is standing up for Lebanon’s future.

Now, more than ever – where approximately one-third of citizens were living below the poverty line before the devastating blast of August 2020 – bold action from the private sector is required to rescue Lebanon’s shattered economy..

In response, the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub will target the structural causes of Lebanon’s unrest, including lack of economic opportunities and widespread inequality. As the institutional representative of more than 45 million companies worldwide, ICC supports sustainable and inclusive economic development that benefits everyone, every day, everywhere. The ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub will convene global business in support of Lebanon and channel direct private sector support to stand up for Lebanon’s future.

ICC’s regional MENA network, comprising 165 chambers of commerce and 12 ICC national committees, will support the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship’s objective to help rebuild Lebanon.

Here are five projects that the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship will host to assist Lebanon’s rebuild for the future:

1. The Lebanese Rebuild Conference

Together with UNESCWA, ICC will host a private sector-led Rebuild Conference on Lebanon. This conference will convene stakeholders from government, business, and civil society across the region, to exchange ideas and policies to aid Lebanon’s rebuild.

The Centre of Entrepreneurship will collaborate with multilateral institutions assisting in the rebuild efforts, such as the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to contribute private sector support and promote structural reforms.

Please check back on this page, or visit ICC Knowledge 2 Go, for more information about ICC’s upcoming Lebanese Rebuild Conference.

2. Re-establishing trade logistics

As a result of this past summer’s damaging explosion, the Port of Beirut, an essential entry point for much of what Lebanon consumes and a regional trading hub, will be inoperable for the foreseeable future. The Centre of Entrepreneurship will work with local partners on the ground in Lebanon to re-establish trade logistics and mitigate supply chain disruptions that might prevent health and food supplies from entering the country.

ICC is currently holding consultations with the World Customs Organization to facilitate trade in the region.

3. Reconstructing hospitals

Due to the August 2020 blast, several hospitals in Beirut were severely damaged or destroyed. ICC is currently holding consultations with the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the rebuild efforts of five hospitals affected..

4. Engaging with the local community

The Centre of Entrepreneurship will promote a broad dialogue with NGOs and young leaders on the ground that have been active in thinking through an effective “citizens bargain” for Lebanon.

5. Restoring confidence in the Lebanese tourism industry

ICC and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) are developing a campaign aimed at rebuilding confidence of international travellers in Lebanon. The campaign will feature audio-visual and social media content showcasing Lebanon’s cultural diversity and strengths, including cuisine, fashion, creative industries, as well as historical and natural heritage.

Learn from the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub’s strategic partners

The ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub is supported by a wide variety of strategic partners to ensure that local entrepreneurs and start-ups have access to world-class resources, tools, and expertise.

	Berytech, Beirut’s ecosystem for entrepreneurs, is working with the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub to scale up start-ups in the region. Leveraging Berytech’s proven expertise in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, funding advice, mentoring, and counselling, the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub will provide start-ups and entrepreneurs with the required knowledge to scale their operations globally.
	Facebook will support the ICC-ECWAS Centre of Entrepreneurship on a wide variety of projects related to digitization of SMBs in the region. As part of this partnership, ICC will provide on the ground support for Facebook’s #LoveLocal initiative – designed to provide additional support to SMBs in the MENA region, the campaign will help them pivot to digital and grow by highlighting several resources made available for their economic recovery. The campaign amplifies the voice of SMBs, while shedding light on their stories and their challenges to help generate consumer demand for local SMBs across the region. To find out more, visit Facebook’s website.
	In September 2020, IE University and ICC hosted the IE Smart Trade Venture Day, a global challenge that seeks to support innovative projects after the impact of COVID-19. The five finalists received US$5,000 in Amazon Web Services Promotional Credit and the winner received US$10,000 in Amazon Web Services Promotional Credit. IE and ICC are planning to host future competitions for start-ups with a focus on trade digitalisation, health, supply chain resilience, trade finance and any other issues relevant to helping small- and medium-sized (SMEs). The ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub will make these challenges available to local entrepreneurs and start-ups.
	Mind the Bridge, an innovation advisory firm, will be working with ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub to help scaling, mapping, and empowering start-ups in the MENA region.
	Pearson Middle East will be working with the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub and ICC Academy to provide courses and skill training programs for entrepreneurs in Lebanon. From real-world English learning courses to learning modules on work skills and digital skills, Pearson Middle East will work hand-in-hand with the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship – Beirut Hub to ensure that the region’s next generation of business leaders are prepared for the future.