Lebanon’s ports zones for free trade

Despite Lebanon’s shaky political and economic situation, millions of dollars have been invested in state-of-the-art warehouse facilities in Beirut in an attempt to re-establish the Lebanese capital as a regional trading and transport hub. The focus has been the Beirut Free Trade Zone, established in 1995 and which offers business and financial incentives, including the possibility of 100% foreign ownership, customs exemptions for goods entering and leaving the free zone, long-term, low-cost land and building leases and low-cost utility rates for industries. By the end of May, the free zone’s Logistics Center will be officially opened which brings together a core of transport and warehousing companies. Beirut port covers a total area of 1,200,000 m2, of which 11,200 m2 is reserved for the free trade zone. Currently, the port handles some 6 million tons of cargo a year, which represents some 55% of all import and some 60% of all