Minister of Industry, Hussein Hajj Hassan, currently heading a Lebanese delegation to Rome, held a meeting with Pietro Sebastiani, the General Director for Cooperation and Development at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The meeting had been an occasion to assess the existing Lebanese-Italian cooperation agreements, as well as the means to double finances allocated in support of new developmental projects such as the establishment of a number of industrial cities in different Lebanese regions.
In turn, Minister Hajj Hassan made an intervention about the dire and critical economic situation in Lebanon, and the importance of having Europe give Lebanon exceptional treatment by opening markets before Lebanese products.
The intervention resonated with the Italian side, which confirmed the country's support to Lebanon, especially with regard to alleviating the burden of the Syrian refugee crisis.

Source: NNA