by Dana Halawi
BEIRUT, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Foreign companies participating in Project Lebanon 2025, an annual construction exhibition, have expressed their keen interest in contributing to Lebanon's reconstruction efforts following widespread destruction caused by the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
Roger Luo, a manager of Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery, a Chinese construction equipment manufacturer at the event, told Xinhua on Wednesday that his company has adjusted its strategy to meet Lebanon's urgent reconstruction needs.
"We are working to shorten delivery times for our equipment by streamlining our supply chain and accelerating shipments from our factories to dealers and end customers," Luo said. "We are also supporting our dealers with payment facilities and after-sales services to assist contractors operating in Lebanon."
Luo said Chinese companies could play a major role in Lebanon's rebuilding efforts due to their competitive pricing, advanced technology, and high-quality products.
"We have been present in Lebanon for many years, and we intend to maintain this momentum with new products introduced each year," he said.
Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel began on Oct. 23, 2023, amid the escalation of the conflict in Gaza. Fighting intensified significantly on Sept. 23, resulting in hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries, and severe destruction across southern Lebanon's border towns and villages.
The Council of the South, a Lebanese governmental body tasked with assessing damage and overseeing reconstruction, is still compiling a comprehensive report. Its head, Engineer Hashem Haidar, told Xinhua that inspection teams have surveyed most of the affected areas.
"Preliminary figures show that around 37,500 housing units were completely destroyed, 55,000 severely damaged, and 130,000 affected overall," Haidar said. "We estimate the total damage at approximately 4 billion U.S. dollars."
Separately, the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme estimate infrastructure damage at about 8.5 billion U.S. dollars -- nearly half of Lebanon's GDP.
Reconstruction efforts have yet to begin, as they remain heavily reliant on securing foreign aid. Political negotiations and conditions set by international donors continue to delay the launch of recovery initiatives.
Nevertheless, several foreign companies are actively seeking to position themselves for involvement once the process begins.
Jessica Bou Samra, marketing manager at IFP Group, the organizer of Project Lebanon 2025, which runs from May 6-9, said this year's exhibition features around 250 companies, including 50 foreign firms from about eight countries.
"Foreign participation is higher than in previous years," Bou Samra told Xinhua, attributing the increase to international companies seeking to enter the Lebanese market amid emerging opportunities in the country's post-war reconstruction.
Guido Rossi, industrial department manager at Tessitura Tele Metalliche Rossi, an Italian manufacturer, said Italy has the expertise, facilities, and technology to assist Lebanon in its reconstruction process.
"There are many promising projects in Lebanon, and this exhibition is a valuable opportunity for us to explore the local market," Rossi said.
Similarly, Herwig Neuper, commercial counsellor at Advantage Austria, a trade promotion organization, told Xinhua that Austrian companies are also showing interest in investing in Lebanon following the political breakthrough.
"We feel there is a sense of relief among companies. They are no longer hesitant to come here," Neuper said. "They are building strong relationships with local businesses, and there is potential to elevate this cooperation to a new level."
Exhibitors also cited several challenges to their participation in Lebanon's reconstruction.
Andrea Frigo, Middle East sales manager at Italian company CGM Gruppi Elettrogeni, said one of the main difficulties his company faces is strong competition from Chinese manufacturers in terms of pricing and quality.
"Industrial firms in 西瓜视频are making significant improvements in quality," Frigo told Xinhua. "Competition is a major challenge, which is why we are focusing on enhancing our own product quality."
Johnny Khamisse, general manager at Afitex, a French company specializing in soil drainage, waterproofing, and structural reinforcement, pointed to security concerns and lack of financing as key obstacles in Lebanon.
"Security issues are causing delays and putting some projects on hold," Khamisse said. "There is also a lack of funding from banks, which is affecting progress." ■