Minister of Economy Amer Bsat during a visit to Saida on July 18, 2026. (Credit: NNA)
Economy Minister Amer Bsat said during a visit to Saida on Saturday that the city needs "an integrated development vision that starts from the waterfront, particularly the port," the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Saturday marked the second day of Bsat's visit to southern Lebanon, which began in Nabatieh on Friday.
Bsat visited the Saida and South Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, where he met representatives of the commercial, agricultural and industrial sectors and heard their concerns.
During the meeting, Chamber President Mohammad Hassan Saleh called for the expansion of Saida Port's role, particularly by allowing it to import and export food products and other goods instead of limiting its activity to importing cement and marble and exporting scrap metal.
Bsat said Saida should be at the center of a long-term development strategy.
"Saida must serve as an entry point for a long-term economic and development vision. After this difficult phase ends, we must rethink Saida's economic, social and cultural role, starting with the waterfront and the port, alongside other development projects, because the port represents a very important and essential pillar," he said.
On Friday, speaking from Nabatieh, Bsat said the government is seeking to accelerate reconstruction efforts, while acknowledging that progress in restoring electricity, water and telecommunications has been slow.
Although Saida was less affected than other parts of South Lebanon during this year's war between Hezbollah and Israel, the city was hit by several Israeli airstrikes and hosted thousands of internally displaced people.
The war, which resumed on March 2, largely subsided in June, although Israeli forces continue to occupy dozens of villages in South Lebanon and carry out daily demolitions in the occupied areas.
