Area : 10,452 sq. km (4,076 miles)

Population : 4 million. Last census July 1998. More than 14 million Lebanese live outside the

Head of Government : Prime Minister Fouad Siniora (The cabinet is in the process of formation).

Governor, : Mr. Riad Salameh

Other major provinces & cities : Tripoli, Saida, Tyre, Baalbeck, Byblos, Jounieh, Zahle, Chatura

Literacy rate : 86%

Languages spoken : Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian

Religion : Broadly Christianity and Islam, within which there are 18 different denominations or confessions.

GDP per capita : US$3400

Local time : GMT+2 in winter and +3 in summer IST - 2 ½ in summer, IST - 3 ½ in winter

Daylight Saving Time : Last Saturday of October (+) 1 hr. Last Saturday of April (-) 1 hr.

Latitude/Longitude : 33 50 N, 35 50 E

Currency/Exchange rate : US$ 1= Lebanese Pounds 1507 Re 1= Lebanese Pounds 34.5

Government:

Lebanon is a democratic republic with parliamentary system of government and a cabinet headed by a prime minister. The Lebanese Constitution provides for a Christian President, Sunni Muslim Prime Minister and Shiite Muslim Speaker. The President is elected for a six-year term and the 128 Members of Parliament or Deputies for a four year term. Lebanon held its last general elections in May-June 2005. The Prime Minister is Faoud Siniora from Hariri’s Future Movement Bloc.

After the devastating 15-year civil war from 1975 to 1990, Lebanon has made substantial progress toward rebuilding its physical and political infrastructure. Its postwar economic strategy is focused on regaining its traditional comparative advantage as a leading financial and business center in the region. Trade liberalization and structural reforms are key elements of this strategy. Remittances from overseas Lebanese and tourism are the mainstay of the economy. Lebanon currently has public debt to the tune of 160 percent of its GDP at US$35 billion.

Total Lebanese imports in 2004 accounted for US$9397 million compared to US$ 7168 million in 2003. Lebanon’s principal imports include food products, chemicals, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, textiles, miscellaneous articles, etc. Italy was Lebanon’s main source of imports with US$930 million, accounting for 9.9% of the total. It was followed by France with 7.8%, China with 7.6%, the United States with 5.9%, Russia with 5.8%, Switzerland with 4.2%, the United Kingdom with 4.1%, and Japan with 3.7%. The aggregate imports from these countries accounted for more than 55% of total imports in 2004.

Lebanon has traditionally had an adverse balance of trade. Total Lebanese exports in 2004 accounted for US$1747 million compared to US$1524 million in 2003, an increase of 14.6 percent or US$223 million. Lebanon’s principal exports include agricultural products, prepared foodstuffs, textiles and textile articles, machinery and mechanical appliances, etc.

Iraq was Lebanon’s main export destination with US$255 million, or 14.6%, of the total, and was followed by Switzerland with US$187 million (10.7%), Syria with US$145 million (8.3%), the United Arab Emirates with US$ 135 million (7.7%), Turkey with US$127 million (7.3%), Saudi Arabia with US$113 million (6.5%), Kuwait with US$67 million (3.8%) and Jordan with US$63 million (3.6%).

Lebanon is a member of the Arab League, Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the Francophonie Association and the Euro-Mediterranean Monitoring Committee for R&D Cooperation (MoCo). Lebanon is also an active player in the EU-Med partnership in science and technology. Free Trade Agreements were signed with Lebanon’s major trading partners; namely the European Union (EU), the EFTA States (Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Iceland). Lebanon has close ties with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, as each of the six countries hosts a large number of Lebanese expatriates. A full establishment of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) was achieved in January 2005.

Lebanon is a founding member of the United Nations and is a member of all international organizations under the auspices of the United Nations. The Republic also hosts a number of international organizations such as the United Nations Regional Office for Education, Science and Culture in the Arab Countries, the United Nations Commission for Refugees, Food and Agriculture Office of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Fund for Childhood, United Nations Development Program and the Arab Center for Legal and Judicial Research. The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), an agency of the United Nations, relocated its headquarters to Beirut in October 1997 and the World Bank opened an office in Beirut in January 2000.

Lebanon is actively negotiating accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and expects to become a member of the WTO in 2006.

Major Universities/Scientific Institutions: : The Lebanese University; The American University of Beirut; Lebanese American University; Saint Joseph University: Notre Dame University; Beirut Arab University; University of Balamand, Haigazian University and the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS).

Important Think Tanks on Foreign Policy related issues: Centre for Arab Unity Studies, Beirut Study and Research Centre on the Contemporary Middle East (CERMOC); Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF); Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS); Public Information Centre (PIC).

Bilateral relations between India and Lebanon are cordial and friendly. India maintained its diplomatic representation in Beirut throughout the civil war from 1975- 1990 barring a brief closure for two months between August to October 1989. India consistently expressed its commitment and support for the unconditional implementation of the UNSC Resolution 425 and for the restoration of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Lebanon and the extension of the authority of the Lebanese State over the entire territory of Lebanon. India has endorsed the Middle East Peace Process for bringing about a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, consistent with dignity and justice. India also supported the Arab Peace Initiative adopted at the Beirut Summit held in Beirut on March 26-28, 2002.

Despite the friendly and problem free relationship, however, relations between India and Lebanon are yet to gather critical momentum. As Lebanon sets about taking control its own destiny and setting its own priorities in the aftermath of Syrian withdrawal, the time is opportune to establish fruitful, mutually rewarding cooperation in all sectors of national life including social, economic and political spheres.

Cultural Cooperation Agreements: There is a Cultural Agreement between India and Lebanon which was signed in April 1997 during the visit of Lebanon’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Fares Boueiz for the Non-Aligned Ministerial Conference in New Delhi. The agreement came into force with the exchange of instruments of ratification on February 4, 2000.

Bilateral Trade: Total volume of India-Lebanon trade during 2004 was US$ 141 million as compared to US$ 98.2 million in 2003, an annual increase of 43.58 percent. Balance of trade is heavily in favour of India which has reached US$ 87 million in 2004.

Imports from India: Indian exports to Lebanon amounted to US$ 114 million in 2004 compared to US$ 84 million in 2003. Over half of the total import is made up of textiles & its articles and Gems & Jewellery. Other major items are animal products, articles of plastic, vegetable products, Machinery/electrical instruments and articles of base metal. Meat and meat products, especially frozen buffalo meat, has a good market as it is cheaper in comparison to fresh meat. Local authorities have banned the import of frozen meat from India since August 2004. APEDA has been kept informed of these developments.

Exports to India: Lebanese exports to India amounted to US$27 million in 2004 as compared to US$13.8 million in 2003, registering a marginal increase. The Lebanese exports have remained around US$ 14 million since 1999. Indian imports from Lebanon mainly constitute products of chemicals/allied industry (25.9%) and base metal and its articles (59.25 percent).

Trade Bodies: The Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture in Beirut is the apex body engaged in promotion of trade in the country. In addition, businessmen forums have also been established in each of the two countries with the objective of promoting bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The Indo-Lebanese Businessmen Forum was set up in Delhi in November 1996 and the Beirut Traders Association in 1997.

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL): The Indian battalion assumed its responsibilities as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in South Lebanon in November 1998, replacing the Norwegian battalion which was withdrawn by Norway after it had served for two decades. Its responsibility is to maintain peace and security within its area of operations. The Indian battalion also render humanitarian assistance consisting of medical assistance, veterinary aid, technical support to schools, etc. to various villages in its area of operations.

At present, 15 Assam Regiment is serving in South Lebanon under the Command of UNIFIL and is deployed at the most sensitive part of the Blue Line which is United Nations demarcated imaginary line between South Lebanon and North Israel. Col. Tummala Sambaiah is the Commanding Officer of the Indian Battalion from November 2004. Col. Binoy Poonnen is the present Contingent Commander.

Visa requirements for Indians: It is necessary for Indians to obtain visas before entering Lebanon. The passports should be valid for at least a year. Yellow fever inoculation is necessary for those entering Lebanon from yellow fever affected areas. It is also advisable to obtain visa for UAE. Diplomatic/Official visas to the Diplomats and Official posted to Embassy of India in Lebanon are issued based on the note verbale from Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. The approval from the local Labour Ministry of Work is required subject to clearance by the Directorate of Security General in Lebanon for a 90-day visa for businessmen. Tourist visas are also granted subject to approval by Directorate General of Security. There is no record in the Indian Embassy of the people coming on Student Visa to Lebanon.

Air links with India/Convenient Travel Routes: The only international airport and principal gateway to Lebanon is Beirut International Airport. Travel to Beirut by air from Delhi/Bombay is via Dubai, and from Kolkata, via Jordan. The address of Air India office in Beirut is : P.O. Box No. 11-2348, Sannayeh, Spears Street, Beirut (Ms. Najla Hitti, Sales Representative, Tel: 00-961-1-736109; Fax: 00-961-1-738306)

Links to local organizations dealing with India: Lebanon India Business Forum, Tel: 00-961-1-652672;

Important NRI/PIO Associations: Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Shri Guru Ravi Das Sabha, Tamil Nadu Cultural and Welfare Association, Kerala Welfare Association, All Kerala Welfare Association, Beirut Malayalee Association, Baba Balak Nath Temple, and Maata Mandir.