A much needed platform for the furniture development in Tripoli
The platform is a physical space of 1500m2 that will offer an untapped potential of development in terms of local product expansion and diversification. It will be a meeting point for all actors in the sector: designers and architects, suppliers of raw materials and equipment, manufacturers, but also distributors and end customers. The support services offered on the platform will monitor all stages of the furniture development process, from creation to distribution through prototyping, pre-production and quality management. This 360º positioning aims to energize the producers of Tripoli and to support them in the challenges of reclaiming the market that are theirs today.
Akram Oueida, President of the Rashid Karami International Fair in Tripoli is optimistic about this unique development initiative which will offer business support to the Tripoli furniture community, an industry that has long been renowned for its excellence in this region. “This platform will create new job opportunities, considering that there are 1200 carpentry in Tripoli today.” Oueida said that “by strengthening the promotion and marketing of furniture production and identifying new channels of distribution, this platform will help raise the profile of the furniture producers in Tripoli within the national and international market trends in the wood sector.”
Mrs Mathilde de Williencourt, Head of Development from Expertise France explained that this 1,500m2 platform will become the hub for designers and furniture producers as it will include a materials library, a creation space, a prototyping and pre-production workshop and a showroom. “This is a physical facility for creativity to meet and produce for the needs of the furniture market in Lebanon and abroad. The platform proposes activities focusing on the complete production cycle but also transversal ones such as capacity building and knowledge management.”
Dany Abboud, Board Member of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists confirmed that “this integrated platform is open to both the small producers of traditional designs and the modern community of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as it will enhance the collaboration between craftsmen, designers and producers.” Abboud pointed out that “despite the downturn in the wood industry in Tripoli, the sector remains strategic to Lebanon considering its high socio-economic impact and the high level of local expertise and skills available. The platform will support the efficiency of the production, purchasing, distribution, product development and sales based on identified national and European key target markets. For that, it will also set policies and procedures to ensure a high standard professionalism in the time and quality management, design, environmental and occupational health and safety.” Abboud continued, “the Association of Lebanese Industrialist is learning from the project’s foreign experts to better and efficiently support this sector in the future.”
Julien Schmitt, Team Leader of the programme from Expertise France closed the conference by highlighting the very productive and constructive partnership established between Expertise France, the Association of Lebanese Industrialists and the Rashid Karami International Fair in Tripoli that permitted to sign a 6 years-contract of collaboration. M. Schmitt also explained that the activities on the platform would begin before the summer 2018, as soon as the rehabilitation works of the selected building will be conducted. He
finally concluded on communicating that Expertise France is very enthusiastic about this joint venture, symbol of the support to innovation that the Private Sector Development Program is providing for the wood processing sector in Tripoli.