CFE Advisory Board Meeting At BAU

Beirut Arab University held the first Advisory Board meeting of the Center for Entrepreneurship for this year to discuss the agenda and the role that will be played by the Center in urging students to present their researches and inventions, as well as encouraging them to select the best.

The meeting was opened by BAU President, Prof. Dr. Amr Galal El Adawi, who announced that the Center’s activities are not solely focused on BAU students, but also serves the Lebanese society at large. He also stressed that the presence of influential persons, such as the Board Members in society contributes much to its promotion.

The President also emphasized the importance of the members’ participation in all activities and enhancing the success of the Mount Lebanon Startup Weekend event due to be held on 15th, 16th and 17th November in Debbieh Campus.

CFE Director, Dr. Leila Abboud, presented the agenda with the Center’s tasks since its establishment as well as the agenda for 2013/2014. The attendants discussed the means to implement these projects through the CFE’s cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in training students at European Universities. Discussion included also the presentation of students’ projects to investors who may adopt and embrace these ideas, contacting embassies and attaining grants for the Center, as well as establishing incubators, due to the importance of supporting Lebanese youth in the light of the current security circumstances. Another way of introducing Entrepreneurship was proposed including it in school curricula to raise awareness and encourage participation in entrepreneurship-related activities.

The meeting was attended, in addition to BAU President, Prof. Dr. Amr Galal El Adawi, and the CFE members, by the Vice-President for Tripoli Branch Affairs, Prof. Dr. Khaled Baghdadi, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration, Prof. Dr. Nehal Mostafa, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Dr. Adel El Kordi, Secretary General, Mr. Issam Houri, Bir and Ihsan Board Member, Mr. Ayman Houri, CFE Director, Dr. Leila Abboud, Mayor of Sidon, Mr. Mohamed El Saudi, Chairperson of the Board of Idal, Mr. Nabil Itani, Dr. Gamal Badawi, the Artist Ragheb Alameh represented by Mr. Ahmed Alameh, CEO of Al Iktissad Wal Aamal Group, Mr. Raouf Abou Zaki, Advisor to the Minister of Ministry of Economy and Trade, Mr. Roger Melki, owner of Tamer Group, Mr. Gaby Tamer, ex-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Ghazi Korytem, Regional Manager of BankMed, Mr. Najib Abu Merhi, and Lawyer Walid El Khatib.

The meeting concluded with a consensus that all attendants should offer their utmost in supporting the youth, believing in their ideas and working towards realizing these.