Press Release

Medibtikar organizes Workshops on PDO, PGI, TSG certification for specific products,

Beirut, Lebanon, 14th May 2009

Cairo, 9th May 2009 –Head Office; The EuroMed Innovation & Technology Programme

(Medibtikar) will organize working sessions and training on Protected Designation of Origin (PDO),

Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and TSG certification for specific products in Beirut,

Lebanon on the 14th of May 2009. The aim of the working sessions is to present activities

supporting the MEDA countries to certify the quality of selected exports to the European Union.

The current work is a follow up of the introductory training for all countries held in Amman on July16th 2008 to which Lebanon has expressed an explicit interest after a generic presentation, formore information, please visit http://www.medibtikar.eu/Medibtikar-organises-Workshopon,

1226.html.

The certification process is highly relevant for innovation and mutual benefits in the process of the completion of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

Certified products enjoy a premium in export prices, which acts as a stimulus for investments and innovation in order to further increase value added helping the certified product into a virtuous circle. The central purpose is to promote these products and make them recognizable internationally for their quality and intrinsic characteristics. Building clusters around certified products is a way to increase value added and international competitiveness in a broader range of activities.

The Lebanese products identified as potentially presenting the characteristics needed for quality certification are:

· Hummus

· Baba Ghannouj (Eggplant Dip)

· Shanklish (Goat Cheese Salad)

· Arak (alcoholic Beverage)

· Meghli (Lebanese Dessert)

· Grape Molasses (Jam made of Grapes)

· Carob Molasses (Jam made Of Carob)

· Kishk

· Pickled Eggplant in oil

· Sambousik, Kibbeh Triangles, Mini-Kafta, Chicken Sfeeha , Shish Barak, Chicken Falafel,

Chicken Kibbeh Balls

In cooperation with the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (http://www.ali.org.lb), efforts will focus on identifying the legal entity to submit PDO/PGI petition, responsibilities and timing. There will be the presentation and analysis of the Submission Form to EU as well as reports capturing

Product Specifications, History, Special Product Characteristics, Competition [Local & Global],

Production Quantity, Production Methodology, Packaging & Labelling, Local Legislation on Product Protection. The result will be a discussion with producers to identify to what extent they are interested in further pursuing the matter and how this can be best organised in a post Medibtikar cooperation.

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About Medibtikar

Medibtikar, the EuroMed Innovation and Technology Programme has been initiated by the

European Commission, and supervised by the European Commission Delegation in Cairo. It has run for three years and has a budget of €7.3 million and it disseminates innovative practices by developing exchanges between planners, policy makers and stakeholders in the MEDA region.

Medibtikar also builds and strengthens relationships with European public and private partners through the establishment of strong and active networks. To obtain more information about

Medibtikar, please visit the Medibtikar website www.medibtikar.eu, where you can get the latest updates on programme activities.

For PR & Media Interviews, please contact:

Noha Fathi

Marketing Consultant

The-Marketer.net

Mob.: +20 12 336 7405

Email: nfathi@the-marketer.net

John Yates

Programme Manager

Tel:+20227365850

Mob: +20 10 991 3806

Email: j.yates@medibtikar.net

This press release has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this press release are

the sole responsibility of Medibtikar and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union”