Success for the first edition of the Lebanese Industry Expo

The Lebanese Industry Expo 2025 wrapped up its inaugural edition on Nov. 1, after four days of events dedicated to promoting and supporting Lebanese industry.

Held at Seaside Arena in Beirut, the event was coordinated by the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI), in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and managed by Hospitality Services and Promofair. This was the first large-scale industrial gathering since the economic collapse of 2019, taking place against a backdrop marked by the recent war between Hezbollah and Israel, which ended in November 2024 with a fragile cease-fire.

More on Lebanese innovation

Founded by a Lebanese woman, Teleskope, specializing in sensitive data management, raises $25 million

"The goal of the Expo was not just to highlight Lebanon’s industrial presence, but also to showcase the quality of local production," ALI president Salim Zeenni told L'Orient-Le Jour.

"Above all, it was about bringing industrialists together and connecting them with foreign buyers to boost exports and expand opportunities." He emphasized that this edition marks the first of an annual event: "The aim now is to consolidate our gains so that Lebanese industry can continue to export and grow."

More than 10,000 visitors

According to Joumana Dammous Salameh, cofounder and general manager of Hospitality Services, about 200 exhibitors took part in the event, representing a wide range of sectors — from food and pharmaceuticals to fashion and cosmetics. The expo attracted "more than 10,000 visitors," she added. "It’s been a long time since we’ve had an event like this. There was a lot of commercial activity, so it was a great networking opportunity. Several companies took the chance to launch or test new products."

The Expo included a series of forums and round tables on major economic and industrial challenges. "We had extensive discussions, with the participation of several ministers, including those of Social Affairs, Agriculture, Labor, and Economy," said Léna Choueiri Nahas, associate director at Promofair.

Incase you missed it

Le Gray reopens its doors in downtown Beirut

She noted that a "Buyers Forum" enabled 25 international buyers to meet Lebanese industrialists, discover their products, and place orders: "We connected buyers and manufacturers to create direct business opportunities and export prospects for Lebanese producers."

Among the participants were representatives from Amazon and leading distribution chains in Africa and the Arab world. "I think the big achievement of this expo was showing the Lebanese people that the industrial sector doesn’t just produce labneh and hummus," said Industry Minister Joe Issa al-Khoury, "but that here in Lebanon, we also design and manufacture semiconductor components exported to the United States and China, as well as robots and sophisticated machines sold to major groups around the world."

The event also featured an interactive section called Aal Mouda (trendy), designed to attract a younger audience and highlight fashionable Lebanese products — those that are healthy, organic, or eco-friendly. A culinary space also offered live demonstrations. Although no exact figures have been released, Salim Zeenni noted that many business deals were finalized during the event.