Thursday, 16 April 2015

Lebanon 2015 budget debate to continue next week



BEIRUT: The Council of Ministers Thursday agreed to continue debate on the 2015 budget next week, Information Minister Ramzi Joreige announced following a Cabinet session.


“Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil outlined the draft budget for 2015 in a detailed presentation,” Joreige told reporters from the Grand Serail in Downtown Beirut.


Joreige said the Finance Ministry is making an effort to reduce wastage in the general directorates of customs and real estate, which would have a “positive impact on revenue in the coming years.”


The Cabinet also tasked Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb to intensify his efforts on the issue of the stranded drivers in Jordan and the Gulf.


A total of 231 Lebanese truck drivers remain stranded in Jordan and Saudi Arabia after the closure of the Nasib crossing on the Jordanian-Saudi border.


Nine drivers kidnapped by the Nusra Front on the Syrian side of the Nasib crossing returned home Monday, ending a nearly two-week ordeal.


Sixty truck drivers were stuck at Jordan’s Jaber crossing, which is opposite the Nasib crossing.


As for the 171 truckers in Saudi Arabia, Chehayeb has said Riyadh was cooperating with Lebanon.


Participation of certain ministries in conferences abroad has also been approved by the Cabinet, Joreige said.


Absent from Thursday's meeting were Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk, Health Minister Wael Abu Faour and Economy Minister Alain Hakim.



Advertisement



No comments:

Post a Comment