The Industrial Modernization Program is a European Union funded project that has started in May 2001 to support the development of private sector manufacturing in Lebanon, with particular emphasis on established SMEs in the food processing, printing, and packaging industries. The Project includes managing a European Union grant of 11 Million Euro to provide Technical Assistance to the Lebanese Industry. Assistance includes Access to Markets, Product Development, Management Information Systems, Accounting and Financial Systems, Financing, and Networking. Tomorrow’s Advice together with three other Consortium members (French, Italian, and Greek) form the Project Management Unit (PMU). Tomorrow’s Advice as the Local Consultant performs Quality Assurance and provides advice and input to the team at the specially established European Lebanese Center for Industrial Modernization referred to as ELCIM www.elcim.info. Half of the PMU team is assigned to Tomorrow’s Advice professionals.

This Project, which was funded by the World Bank, included a Co-Management function of EDL’s financial affairs for a period of three years and ended in May 2001. It was implemented in Joint Venture with PriceWaterHouseCoopers (formally “Coopers & Lybrand”). Tomorrow’s Advice was assigned Technical Oversight and Project Management. Mrs. Chammas-Mrad, our General Manager, was contractually assigned as Project Manager by EDL and the World Bank, and supervised a team of seven professionals. Several issues that improve the use of financial resources at the Finance Department of EDL have been identified, analyzed, and reported. Among others, the impact of efficiency and savings was analyzed to increase the margin of support to local industry and below poverty line customers. Recommendations were addressed to concerned Public Authorities.

In light of the one year anniversary of the signing of the EuroMed Agreement between Lebanon and the European Union, Tomorrow's Advice was assigned by the Ministry of Industry and for the benefit of the Agro-food Sector to analyze the European Export market and to identify a selection of products that may represent a potential for the Lebanese Industry in the EU. Selected agro-food products include: Olive Oil, Alcoholic Spirits, Herbs and Spices, Preserved Fruits and Vegetables, Mediterranean Ethnic Food, Nuts, and others (juices, sweets, organic foods,…). Statistical data, competitiveness, market analysis and other relevant data and recommendations are included in the Report to be delivered in April 2004.

The study concluded in February 2004, detailed the profile of the Packaging Industry in Lebanon. It included a description of the types of packaging produced by Lebanese firms, packaging education and training, research & development and testing available export promotion programs, and other issues related to packaging legislation, standards, etc. Important recommendations were also included in the report and communicated to concerned stakeholders.

The study was concluded in July 2002. It included a detailed description of the Printing Industry in Lebanon with amongst others a listing of most of the Lebanese Printing firms, and sections analyzing the internal and external environments of the sector. Some of the covered subjects included: manpower, investments levels, productivity, financing, growth strategies, domestic and export markets, competitiveness of the sector, etc. A SWOT analysis was conducted and recommendations to the printing firms, the Lebanese Graphic & Arts Syndicate, the Government, and ELCIM were presented.

During the last ten years, Tele Liban faced major financial difficulties. A Governmental Decision in 2001 to restructure the ailing company entailed downsizing. TL employees were being dismissed and their indemnity packages were evaluated and calculated by TL. Tomorrow’s Advice performed the review of Calculations and Records of the Exceptional “End of Services Indemnity” for all TL employees: permanent, contractual, daily, and other workers. Services provided within this mission included legal compliance with regulations, laws and contractual obligations, as well as proposed resolutions to exceptions found. Supplied recommendations were addressed to concerned Public Authorities.

The Lebanese Ministry of Finance proposed a new tax in 1998: “The One Percent Turnover Tax”. For the benefit of the Lebanese Parliament, Tomorrow’s Advice analysed and reported on the tax impact on industry and on business development. The Study included the evaluation of the cascade effect inflating production cost and impacting Industry’s ability to compete in the domestic and export markets considering the low protection and open trade policy. Recommendations were addressed to concerned Public Authorities.

Tomorrow’s Advice provides accounting and financial management consultancy services to several local and foreign private clients working in Lebanon. Services include: compilation of accounting and financial information and statements; monthly financial statement reporting; preparation of weekly worksheets reporting income, expenses, and cashflow management; Financial Management; Assistance in the preparation of Tax and Social Security reports; Fiscal and Legal impact analysis; Contract and Procurement review; Cost and overhead review and analysis; Operations flow system review and design; Training; Internal Audit; Internal control review and design; Systems implementation and automation. Services are recurring and contracts are renewed on an annual basis.

“Promoting Pharmaceutical Exports Based on a Regional Market Study” falls within the Regional Project to support Arab States in their pursuit of economic and social reform and multi-lateral economic cooperation based on a contract with United Nations Office for Program Services via United Nations Development Program in Lebanon and the Ministry of Economy and Trade. The study was published in June 2000. It was extensive and included details on the stakeholders of the sector, the institutional framework, and the status of the Industry in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. The study described the main issues, addressed recommendations to Industry, Private Sector, and Public Sector, and provided stakeholders with an Action Plan for sector development.

Tomorrow's Advice developed a documentary list of main dangerous drugs banned and withdrawn from main international markets, and identified their market status in Lebanon in order to increase consumer awareness vis-à-vis potential health risks. The documentary list was disseminated to stakeholders, consumers, and other interested parties on the internet via a website designed specifically for this Project: www.drugavoid.com. The list was also published in February 2002 in book format for distribution to concerned Public Officials, Orders of Professionals, Non Governmental Organizations, Private Health Providers, and related International Organizations. This Project was executed under the Transparency and Accountability Grants Program and co-funded by Tomorrow’s Advice and AMIDEAST, program executing agency on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development.

Tomorrow’s Advice developed tools to disseminate information about the Public Housing Institute’s (PHI) services and projects targeting low-income families/citizens. The main objective of this Project is to empower these families/citizens with tools and information to help them benefit from PHI available programs. Three communication tools were developed: a booklet containing relevant information about PHI Programs, a website for PHI www.housing-institute.com and posters advertising the availability of the booklet and the website. The booklet was disseminated starting January 2004 to PHI’s regional offices, Ministry of Social Affairs’ regional offices, Ministry of Municipalities and Rural Affairs’ regional offices, concerned NGO’s across the Lebanese territories, and various public administrations, institutions, and public schools, among others. This Project was executed under the Transparency and Accountability Grants Program and co-funded by Tomorrow’s Advice and AMIDEAST / USAID.

Tomorrow’s Advice participated in January 2003 in the development of an awareness and self-evaluation tool for industrialists regarding the importance and use of Certificates of Origin. A booklet including explanatory information regarding certificates of origin and the impact of their use and their abuse, the different phases of the production process, the distinction between transformation industry and conditioning industry, and details as to the concept and calculation of the “Added Value”. In addition, a self-assessment tool was developed and distributed to industrialists for evaluation of the local Added Value that they incorporate into their manufactured products. All information related to the Certificates of Origin is available at the Ministry of Industry’s website (www.industry.gov.lb), the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Beirut (www.cciab.org), and the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (www.ali.org). This Project was executed under the Transparency and Accountability Grants Program and funded by AMIDEAST / USAID.

The Project, executed in the first quarter of 2001 included a damage assessment to a Middle Eastern pharmaceutical company due to an alleged breach of contract by its foreign company Joint Venture shareholder. The Project’s scope of services included Data Collection, Data Analysis, and Reporting. Thorough reviews of the relevant agreements and related material, of all financial data, of the production related processes, and of the company’s markets were conducted. Data analysis followed to estimate turnover and overall financial impact in relation to the Company’s operations. Claim resulting from the analysis exceeded US$70 Millions and was adopted by the legal counsel of the client.

The Project included carrying out of an arbitration in a dispute between the shareholders of a firm regarding the “price per share” as distinctly defined and agreed upon in the shareholding agreements. A meticulously defined procedure was carried out in 2002 by our Team of Experts to determine the exact points of dispute between the Parties. The methodology included a “Dispute Identification Procedure” developed at our firm in accordance with the highest professional standards. An evaluation and scoring system was used aiming at identifying the dispute and the size of the gap separating the positions of the Parties. A presentation of options and methodology of the different types of litigation support (Evaluation, Mediation, and Arbitration) was included.

The Project entailed a study fully documenting the status of Solid Waste Management in Lebanon including the related industrial activities and services, and the impact of systems deficiencies on the environment. As a UNDP-LIFE initiative, this study performed in 1999 included identification of waste issues, sources of pollution, current processing, and problems facing private and public sectors. The Project also included monitoring the activities of community groups and Non-Governmental Agencies, conducting workshops, identifying needs and required technical assistance, and evaluating budgets, financial expenditures, and costs/benefits of activities and services. Recommendations addressed to concerned Public Authorities, included integrated solutions involving all stakeholders.

The Project included a comprehensive plan for modernization of the health care service delivery at a hospital in Lebanon in compliance with prevailing Laws and Regulations. Extensive policy research and comparison with other competitive Middle East health care providers were made to assess the margin of competitiveness and growth potentials of this hospital. Recommendations were addressed to concerned stakeholders. The Project entailed a detailed documentation of all processes and transaction flows, and the identification of controls and weaknesses. Analysis of operational efficiency was also performed to monitor achievement of the hospital’s business objective. The project lasted for more than six months in 1999.