General News AG Workgroup - 1/1/2009 Author: arpacnetwork.org On June 30th 2008, LTA in collaboration with the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), held a Workshop on the Governance of Associations in Lebanon, at the Intercontinental Phoenicia Hotel. This event presented a new initiative to promote Good Governance in Lebanese Economic and Business Associations. Accordingly, increasing the capacities of Associations by enhancing their Good Governance is deemed paramount towards the development of these institutions in Lebanon. This roundtable grouped the country’s largest business associations and international experts. The initiative was launched with a welcoming speech by Adnan Kassar (president of the Lebanese Economic Organizations). President Kassar stressed on the importance of greater transparency; “Good Governance in associations, corporations and public entities will ultimately drive economic growth, investment promotion and lead our nation to development and prosperity,” he said Aleksandr Shkolnikov, (program officer of global programs at CIPE) focused on the challenges which business associations are increasingly facing in the Middle East and around the world, and the growing pressure on these associations. More to the point Mr. Shkolnikov explained the many ways in which the application of good governance principles can serve to re-invigorate business associations and help these organizations to better serve and represent their members. During the workshop, participants (which included several chairmen of Lebanese Business and Economic Associations) were also presented with a template Code of Good Governance for Associations. As a result of this workshop, 5 Business Associations expressed their interest to work with CIPE and LTA in an effort to improve good governance in their respective associations. Ultimately, all the participants agreed that Lebanese associations need to be better structured given how much they could contribute to economic growth in Lebanon. View Count: 889 times