“When the impossible becomes possible! Through this project, I am now able to support my family and give them a better life,” said fishermen Wafic El Sabra.

72 fishermen are now able to work at sea fully equipped, sell their daily catch, and generate income to support their families and, more widely, Lebanon’s economy thanks to UK aid funding within the framework of the Lebanon Host Communities Support Programme (LHSP), by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA). This project was implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MoPWT).

On July 16, 2019, the inauguration of the rehabilitation of the Jiyeh port took place in the presence of H.E. Minister of Social Affairs, Mr. Richard Kouyoumjian, H.E. Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Lebanon, Mr. Chris Rampling, H.E. Ambassador of Sweden to Lebanon Mr. Jörgen Lindström, UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Celine Moyroud, Director General of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Mr. AbdulHafiz Qaissi, Head of the Union of North Iqlim El Kharroub Municipalities, Mr. Ziad el Hajjar, members of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Association in the Chouf Coast, and numerous stakeholders from the area.

The rehabilitation of the Jiyeh port and the construction of a fish market and surrounding facilities transformed it into one of the most reliable fishermen ports across the country with high standard safety measures, tools, and equipment. Today the facility – completed in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to ensure that works fall in accordance with the ministry’s port standards – includes an increased number of boat parking spaces and a 200 m2 fish market, as well as fully equipped cooperative rooms serving 72 fishermen. The Fishermen’s Cooperative board members were also supported with a personalized and specialized capacity building program for operations and management skills to complement the project’s provisions.

At the end of the event, Minister Koyoumjian said:

I am happy that the local communities are involved in the implemented projects and identify their needs, and the Ministry of Social Affairs helps municipalities with planning and guidance.

He urged municipalities and the cooperative to maintain and further develop the project.

British Ambassador Chris Rampling addressed the sailors with ‘‘3indak bahriya ya rayes’ (Do you have sailors, boss?) and said:

It’s great to be here today to inaugurate the Jiyeh port. This is yet another demonstration of the UK’s strong relationship with Lebanon in support of its economy and prosperity. It’s always heart-warming to see the positive impact these projects are having on people’s lives. This facility is now able to support over 65,831 direct and indirect beneficiaries through one of Lebanon’s best equipped ports across the country. The UK was one of the first donors to support LHSP through our partnership with MoSA and UNDP. We are always proud of this partnership that is allowing tens of thousands of the most vulnerable across Lebanon to benefit from this programme.

Ms. Moyroud of the UNDP said:

The local community has expressed, through an integrated approach, their needs concerning the necessity to improve job creation and revitalize the local economy. This is a crucial issue in the response to the impact of the crisis in the country.

Mr. Qaissi said:

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport prepared guidelines for the establishment of the Jiyeh Port, believing in the need to support the fishermen, who are considered one of the poorest groups in Lebanon, to improve their standards of living and ability to continue working in an environment that is immune to the challenges they face stated . All that has been provided by the UK and the achievements of this project will have a positive impact on improving the economic and social conditions of the fishermen. This project is at the heart of the Union’s vision for development; therefore, we will provide all the support to the Fishermen’s Cooperative in the Chouf Coast for the optimal operation and growth of this facility.

The word from the fishermen was delivered by the head of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Association in the Chouf Coast, Mr. Mohamad Kojok, who said:

Our patience has been rewarded and hope remains for the fishermen of Jiyeh. The sea favours the steadfast, and today’s project is a realisation of a dream which started in 2003, and then funded by the UK in 2017 through LHSP that provided fishing equipment and boats to the Fishermen’s Cooperative Association in the Chouf Coast. We can now go fishing in the morning and sell our products in the evening without fear or worry about our equipment, our safety and daily bread.

Through a close partnership between UNDP, the Ministry of Social Affairs, line ministries, and municipalities, LHSP has implemented since 2014, with the support of a pool of international donors, over 566 projects in 192 most vulnerable municipalities and 11 unions of municipalities, benefitting more than 1.5 million Lebanese and 500,000 Syrians.

In the Mount Lebanon Governorate alone, UK aid has funded LHSP’s projects with over $4.3 million, supporting more than 300,000 beneficiaries. Projects targeted for UK support are identified directly by the relevant municipalities and local communities in response to their most urgent needs.

On the fifth anniversary of the shooting down of flight MH17, the Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has paid tribute to the victims, and announced that the UK will provide financial support to the specialist criminal court in the Hague.

The UK continues to offer its support to the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) and the Dutch National Prosecutor after their recent decision to charge four suspects with shooting down MH17 and the murder of the 298 people on board. The government will provide financial support for the establishment of the specialist criminal court at the Hague which will hear the trial of the four suspects.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

A terrible tragedy took place five years ago today when flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine. 298 innocent people, including 10 British people, lost their lives. I offer my deepest condolences to the families and friends of all those who died.

I support the efforts of the Joint Investigation Team and the Dutch authorities to deliver justice for those who died. This is why we are making a financial contribution of £100,000 to the establishment of the specialist criminal court in the Hague to help ensure that the families and friends of the victims receive answers, and that those responsible are held to account for this appalling crime.

We continue to support Australia and the Netherlands in their call on the Russian government to accept state responsibility for the downing of flight MH17. It is high time Russia cooperated fully with the prosecution and, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2166, provided any assistance requested.

Further information

Members of Parliament were urged to become ‘local trade ministers’ today (Wednesday 17 July) as the Department for International Trade (DIT) launched a toolkit to help MPs promote UK exports.

Launched as part of DIT’s ‘Exporting is GREAT’ campaign, the MP Toolkit will provide MPs with the resources and information they need to help businesses in their constituencies realise their exporting potential – whether that’s celebrating local exporters on social media, sharing regional trade statistics, hosting trade promotion or networking events or directing local businesses to DIT for exporting advice and financial support.

The toolkit was shared with MPs at a launch event in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Room from 11am to 12pm. All Members of Parliament were welcome to attend.

We have a responsibility to help our constituencies prepare for the future. And for all the successes of the UK economy, we must acknowledge that the headwinds in the global economy are blowing strong.

One of the best preparations we can make to deal with these headwinds is ensuring the UK’s export performance is as strong as it possibly can be: to build resilience, help our businesses grow, create jobs and boost wages.

He also addressed the significance of the MP Toolkit, saying:

My Department estimates that 19% of UK registered businesses have goods or services which could be sold overseas but currently aren’t.

As MPs we can help rectify this by acting as trade ministers for our constituencies: encouraging businesses to start exporting by making them aware of the benefits, informing them of the support available and putting them in touch with that support.

Start-ups using location, land and property data in their products and services can apply to join the Geovation Accelerator Programme and receive the backing and support of Ordnance Survey (OS) and HM Land Registry.

The fledgling firms using data produced through mapping and related technologies could be in line to receive expert business support and funding to help them flourish on the world stage.

Over a 12-month period, the start-ups accepted onto the programme will be able to access a wide range of resources. These resources include access to experienced software developers, geospatial expertise from OS, property expertise from HM Land Registry and mentorship on business proposals and investor relationships. They will also each receive up to £20,000 in funding.

Business Minister Lord Henley said:

We live in an age where a vast amount of data is produced every single day and businesses are only just scratching the surface of the benefits that can bring.

This new investment is a key part of our modern Industrial Strategy and will mean more start-ups can make the most of this new location-based data technology, helping to create better, higher-paying jobs in every part of the UK.

The Geovation approach is centred on offering a founder-friendly environment, prime-location office space, meeting facilities, equipment, access to data and great mentors, high-quality workshop content and, almost uniquely, an in-house software development team, who work hand in hand with the companies to build and release their first products.

The data Geovation offers can be used in a variety of ways. The PropTech (property technology) companies that joined the programme earlier this year are:

• DronePrep, who use location data to open up new low-level airspace access possibilities by connecting drone pilots to landowners to share and agree flight information

• Winston, the digital concierge supporting the home of the future

• Property-Markets, the people’s property investment marketplace

• RenKap is an online marketplace working to alleviate the housing crisis by scaling the delivery of affordable homes

The GeoTech firms are:

• Digital-Field, who provide digital solutions for better land management to improve soil health, food production and reduce environmental impacts

• The Future Fox, who create software for communities to transform their neighbourhood, and for planners to create better places, faster, with artificial intelligence

• Watchkeeper International, which uses the latest geospatial technology, IoT (internet of things) systems and secure cloud services to provide clients with real-time monitoring and alerts for security incidents, natural disasters and supply chain disruptions

Head of Geovation Alex Wrottesley said:

Independent market forecasts indicate the current size of the global geospatial analytics market to be somewhere around $35 billion to $40 billion, with it predicted to grow over the next five years by around 14% to 17%. By 2023 it’s projected to hit $86 billion. Geovation plays a driving role in unlocking this value and helping British GeoTech and PropTech start-ups become leading players on a domestic and global stage, and we aim to continue growing our influence.

In general, UK tech start-ups will find it harder to compete on a domestic and world stage if they do not seek out the nurturing of the public sector and large organisations and businesses, and get access to experience, expertise, and world class data. With Government support through its Industrial Strategy, there has possibly never been a better time to be a tech start-up in this country.

Andrew Trigg, Chief Geospatial & Data officer at HM Land Registry, said:

Since our relationship with Geovation began in 2017, it’s been fantastic to see the ever-growing list of PropTech start-ups realise their potential with the help of the accelerator programme. To see, and support, the latest generation of innovators apply HM Land Registry and OS data to real social and commercial challenges by such novel, and clever means is a real testament to the potential of our property data. We couldn’t be more excited to see the ideas and solutions presented in this next round of applications for the programme.

In the three years since the London Hub launched, Geovation has created a community of more than 1,200 GeoTech and PropTech start-ups, helped 84 companies through its programme and seen these companies raise £23.3 million in funding and create more than 200 new jobs.

Find out more about the programme and apply.