The Saudi Research and Publishing Company (SRPC) Group has been honored with an award by M.I.C.E. Arabia Exhibitions and Conferences for promoting "Made in Lebanon" exhibition in Jeddah during a meeting held at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) headquarters on Sunday.

The award was received on behalf of SRPC Group by Fawzy M. Mosly, SRPC administration director for Western Region.

Talking about the meeting, Elie I. Rizk, CEO, M.I.C.E. Arabia Group, told Arab News that the meeting is meant to enhance relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia which go back decades. He said that Lebanon has gone through some political instability but it is hoped that now with the formation of the new government there will be security and stability which will encourage Saudis to revisit Lebanon. “We are hoping through ‘Made in Lebanon’ in Saudi Arabia to enhance the partnership between the private sectors of the two countries and we have extended an invitation to the Saudi private sector to visit Lebanon and to look for investment and business opportunities now that all the countries in the region are preparing also to rebuild Syria,” he added.

Asked about the immediate future plan, he said: “We want the government to lift the ban on Saudis to visit Lebanon. We want them to come back to Lebanon,” and added, “our government is now making sure that there will be peace, security and stability in the country that will encourage Saudis to revisit again. We expect this to come about very soon.”

Mohamad Choucair, chairman of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon also stressed the importance of the visit saying it is “very important” because for the last three years Lebanon didn’t receive any Saudi delegation to the country because of the security situation in the country. “Today the visit is a message for everyone that relations between the Saudi and Lebanese private sector are very strong. Even though Saudis cannot come to Lebanon for the moment, we are here to tell them that we have the best business and friendly relation s with them,” he added.

He said that it is the first time that such a big delegation has come to Saud Arabia. There are more than 70 companies covering all the private sector and also more than 300 at the exhibition, and over 250 industrial factories.

He said that the opening on Monday was very good. More than 1,667 visitors were registered in just five hours. He thanked Mazen Batterjee, vice chairman of JCCI, for all his efforts for the Lebanese and for the present event.

“Last year we signed an MoU between the chamber of Beirut and North Lebanon and the JCCI and now we want to prepare for 2015. We hope to have Saudi Arabia in Lebanon and also we have negotiated with the chamber to have a Saudi and Lebanese Week, maybe in Irbil, Iraq together,” said Choucair.

Asked about the first visit in the near future, he said that it depends on the security situation in Lebanon. “Now with our new government the situation is much better. We expect next month Saudis will come back to Lebanon again,” he added.