BSEF PANEL 3
THE PRODUCTIVE SECTOR
ENHANCING GROWTH AND
CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Mr. Charlie Elias, Australia
August 3rd, 2019 - 10:30-11:40
Together we Strengthen the roots of our youth
The Bkerke Socio-economic Forum is an initiative of
The World Patriarchal Maronite Foundation for Integral Development.
All Rights Reserved
Enhancing Growth and Creating Job
Opportunities
Together we Strengthen the Roots of our Youth
SHARBEL ELIAS
CEO BLUESCOPE BUILDING PRODUCTS ASIA AND
NORTH AMERICA
Agenda
• Todays Challenge
• The Future Challenge
• Embracing Opportunity
• Unlocking The Opportunity
• Leveraging Lebanese Expatriates
Todays Challenge
• High unemployment rate particularly amongst youth
• Lack of quality employment opportunities
• Lack of material employment opportunities for qualified graduates
(35,000 graduates, 7,000 jobs)
• The economy does not generate sufficient opportunities for high
skilled
• Lack of transparent recruitment practices, outdated labor laws
• Potential mismatch between skills and needs of the market place
The Key Challenge to is Create an Increase in Demand through Growth and Match the
Supply to the Demand
The Future Challenge – The Future is more
Challenging but also a significant Opportunity
Embracing Opportunities
Knowledge FASTRACK Digital Economy Agriculture / Organics, Sustainability, Wine
Economy Focus Technology, Digital Hub & AI F&B Lebanon “Green & Sustainable”
Invest in Ultra High Speed Internet Technology
Health Fashion
Medical Tourism Build from Strong Reputation
FinTech Technology & AI Leverage Expats
Professionalise & market aggressively
Tourism Construction Green & Building Intelligent Systems
Prefect marriage of Lebanon’s strong Infrastructure
financial centre roots & technology Engineering hub
Leverage Technology
Enhance the start-up Ecosystem Waste Brand “Green”
Management Huge Opportunity
Eco-tourism, Religious, Medical
Professionalise & market aggressively
Unlocking The Opportunity
• Attract Serious Foreign Investment • Must reduce corruption, Rank 138 on
Global Corruption Index
• Attract more DDI
• More Industry based learning in formal
• Enhance Educational System degrees – “ Graduates of the Future”
• STEM focus • Partnerships with domestic & global
corporations (internships, training,
• Encourage “Non Traditional opportunity)
Opportunities”
• Get serious & invest in crucial eco-
• Enhance Technology & Start-up systems
Ecosystems
• Ultra-high speed internet is a key
• Leverage Lebanese Expatriates element of infrastructure
Leveraging Expatriates
• Capital & Access to Funding • Access to Markets
• Investment
• Business Advisory • Training & Internships
• Mentoring & Coaching
• Innovation tools
• Enhanced Collaboration with
Universities