New Book of Dr. Adel A. FREIHA
"Enterprises and Work in the Arab World (1975-1981)"
38 forms – irregular series
An Economic Analysis and a Middle East round
“Al Anwar”- 13 August 1983- Beirut
Dr. Adel A. Freiha has recently self published in French Language an economic book. It represents a big volum of 576 pages large (size 29 x 23 cm) It includes series of studies issued between August 1975 and March 1981, selled and distributed in Paris by SODILA (Sami Tueni) to companies. It encloses thirty eight studies (forms) concerning the following subjects: a Middle East round, Arab countries and foreign companies, Arab cooperation, economic and social Arab information and international transportation of goods.
In the “Middle East round”, Dr. Freiha underlined that the Arab countries are knowing actually a modern transitional period in different sectors as the economy, sociology, culture, art, standing of living, insisting on the necessity to find modern legislations and new laws, in order to control the economic and social mutation, especially in the field of work components and economic progress conditions.
The future economic development that reached new vital goals was in relation with the defeat which Arabs passed by in 1967 and from the results of the Israeli-Arab war that took place in October 1973 leading to a general review of the structure and the economic and social legislations in the all Arab countries.
Dr. Adel A. Freiha added: in the first field the relations of Arab countries with foreign large companies are extending the pure economic fields to various social and technical ones. Therefore, the decisions taken in the thirty seventh session of the conference of the Arab Chambers of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry held in Beirut in 1974 were focusing on reviewing the relations of the Arab World with foreign companies who had sympathized with the Palestinian cause and had revealed their desire to increase their investments in the Arab countries. One of these important companies was the French one.
The second field was the determination of Arabs to fight Israel by exerting pressure on foreign large companies in order to cut their relations with the Hebrew State, if they wish to increase their investment in the Arab World.
Economic cooperation
The economic cooperation between the Arab countries aimed at installing a network communication between them, in order to facilitate the connection between the Middle-East countries and to reinforce the economic and commercial free trade with Arabic Maghreb (North Africa). This is a justification to install a developed communication network linking Syria, Iraq and Jordan to the Arab Gulf States and another network linking the Sudan to the Gulf.
Furthermore, Dr. Freiha says that eight Arab countries which represent 70% of the Arab citizens are North Africain countries.
For this reason, we find the Middle-East countries consolidating their economic cooperation with the countries of North Africa by establishing common institutions or multi-national companies, in order to create an industrial common market in North Africa supporting the industrial sector in the Arab Mashrek.
The industry in Lebanon
Dr. Freiha talked about the industrial sector in Lebanon and its relation with the general political atmosphere in the country. He affirms that the industrial growth in the capital suburbs in 1974 could have provided a fixed and strong income through many data. Such as an abundant specialized workforce in Lebanon and that the companies and big factories were not in need to foreign expertise. Besides the independency of industrial firms which were not affected by the domestic political events and that the firms owners worked in order to provide good life to engineers and local experts working at the companies. The daily working hours became seven instead of eight. The salaries and additional remuneration were depending on working hours. Others conditions and facilities provided social rest for the workers in this sector.
Dr. Freiha presents here a detailed overview about construction and development projects which the Arab Middle East countries are trying to realize. He concentrated on Saudi Arabia vital structure, according to the five-years plan (1976-1980) with a budget reaching 13 billion dollars distributed between 150 foreign, Arab, western and eastern companies.
Concerning the investment in Iraq, it was also active. So an Iraqi economic responsible said: “investments in Iraq are extended. The most significant is establishing factories and plants and this requires training Iraqis to run these industrial firms.
Then Dr. Freiha talked about the five-years plan in Egypt (1976-1980). This plan aimed to establish free industrial parks in order to develop the industry, in Toufic port, Cairo region and international airport. Besides to build industrial cities in rural areas. This project requires a self satisfaction regarding the workforce.
Dr. Freiha also talked about the construction projects in Qatar, the Emirates and others emirates in the Gulf.
The author talks again about the industrial and economic development in Lebanon by saying: this country is facing today two kinds of challenges: the reconstruction according to a new strategy and modern plannification. New and modern industries are also required in order to be in conformity with the neighbouring countries which are liberating their economies. In this field, the executive power has decided to charge the national, local and international banks to work in the country recovering, to be a mediator between citizens and the National Council of Development and Reconstruction and to etablish the National Company for the Guarantee of the Investments Against the Non-Commercial Risks.
A new project will be born soon in order to establish a banking free zones. This project permits to the non-residents in Lebanon to invest their capitals in hard currency without supporting ordinary taxes.
Dr. Freiha submits a list of multinational companies working in Lebanon, despite this country lacking of natural wealth. We find 16 American industrial companies, 10 companies having big branches, 13 companies registered before 1960.
The French companies working in Lebanon are many, the most important are “Valizer”, “Air Liquide” (working since 1928), “Lebanon cables”, the “Levant”, “Saint Goban” and Soliver. The German companies are Kerameg, and Bayer. There are also Italian, Japanese and British companies and others.
Freiha treated about the economic and social progress in some countries of the Arab World like Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia focusing on the external investment, labor, modern imported technique, modern construction and the contemporary life conditions suitable for modernism and civilization.
Dr Freiha returned again to Lebanon to talk about the Lebanese labor law and the relationship between the employer and employees showing the conditions which support the employee to stay in his work, in addition to the material seductions given to the Lebanese worker in Arab countries. The most important are Gulf States, which encouraged this worker to immigrate for a number of years then to return to Lebanon with a good amount guaranteeing him a prosperous future.
Freiha’s book is considered one of the important books providing to employers and foreign large companies owners and capitals true information about work and big investments in Lebanon or the Arab World.
Hamid Torbey
