Announcements

Press Release 1 - June 2, 2008, Washington DC

Washington D.C. - The Executive Committee of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership (LARP) announces its second business mission to Lebanon to hold the LARP II conference at the Phoenicia Hotel in downtown Beirut on September 12 - 13, 2008.

The objectives of the trip are to increase communications between the Diaspora and the homeland, facilitate business opportunities between the businesses in Lebanon and their counterparts in the Diaspora and to assist the private and public sectors to foster projects that help stimulate economic growth and provide possible grants to help local governments and non-profit organizations.

Several local and international dignitaries have been invited to speak at four different panels; there will be keynote speakers at the opening ceremony, the gala dinner and the two scheduled luncheons. The program is listed on the LARP website as well as information on LARP I and the registration form for LARP II.

LARP is committed to supporting the civil society and civic institutions of Lebanon, to lifting up the spirit of the Lebanese people and, assisting the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other agencies of the United States in their efforts to promote economic growth in Lebanon and to foster peace, stability and democratic institutions in Lebanon in an efforts to enhance the sovereignty and freedom of Lebanon.

Press Release 2 - July 18, 2008, Washington DC

Washington D.C.  - The Executive Committee of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership (LARP) proudly announces that the LARP II conference will be held under the High Patronage of His Excellency, the President of Lebanon, General Michel Sleiman.  The conference is set for September 12 - 13, 2008 at the Phoenicia Hotel in downtown Beirut.

His Excellency Dr. Riad Salameh, Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon will be the keynote speaker at the LARP main gala dinner on Friday, September 12, 2008. Governor Salameh has headed the central bank for thirteen years. In 2006, he was the recipient of the Best Central Bank Governor in the world award at a ceremony in Singapore. He was named the best Central Bank Governor in the Middle East three times in a row. In 2005, the award was granted to Dr. Salameh after polls showed that the most elite of Middle East experts had selected the Governor in appreciation of his distinguished performance in handling the economy in the aftermath of the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri.  It is also important to note that during the July, 2006 war he kept the financial markets in Lebanon intact.

Each year, the Executive Committee of LARP chooses a corporate leader from the Lebanese Diaspora to lead the trip to Lebanon. We are proud to announce that this year our corporate leader is Engineer Ghassan M. Saab, Chief Executive Officer of Sorensen Gross Construction Services, the largest full-line construction services organization in Flint, Michigan. Mr. Saab was born in Choueifat, Lebanon on November 22, 1944. He is the eldest of four children to Mahmoud and Najla Saab.  In 1966, he graduated from the American University of Beirut with a degree in Civil Engineering.  Mr. Saab serves on several civic Lebanese American organizations and was recognized for his dedication and commitment to America and to his heritage. In 2002, he was the recipient of the American Druze Society’s “Man of the Year” award. In 1991 he was awarded the Americanism Medal by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

LARP is committed to supporting the civil society and civic institutions of Lebanon, to lifting up the spirit of the Lebanese people, and assisting the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other agencies of the United States in their effort to promote economic growth in Lebanon and to foster peace, stability and democratic institutions in Lebanon in an efforts to enhance the sovereignty and freedom of Lebanon.

Press Release 3 - August 12, 2008, Washington DC

Washington D.C. - The Executive Committee of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership (LARP) announces the confirmation of several distinguished speakers at the LARP II conference, which is set for September 12, 2008 at the Phoenicia Hotel in downtown Beirut under the High Patronage of His Excellency, the President of Lebanon, General Michel Sleiman and in collaboration with the American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to His Excellency Governor Riad Salmeh, speaking at the conference are: the Honorable Michele J. Sison, US Ambassador to Lebanon; the Honorable Jeffrey J. Grieco, USAID Assistant Administrator for Legislative and Public Affairs; Mr. Thomas H. Staal, USAID Mission Director to Lebanon; Engineer Ghassan M. Saab of Michigan, Corporate Leader of LARP II trip; Dr. Ghaleb Daouk of the Harvard Medical School, Mr. Anis Garabet of Los Angeles, former President of the WLCU, H.E. Mosbah Ahdab, Member of Parliament; H.E. Neemtallah Abi Nasr, Member of parliament; Mr. Dory Chamoun, Mayor of Deir El-Kamar; Mr. Ahmad El-Assaad, Chairman of the Lebanese Option Gathering; Mr. Neemat G. Frem, President & CEO of INDEVCO group; Mr. Nabil G. Sawabini, Chairman & CEO of MENA Capital; Mr. Salim Zeenni, President of the American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Sami Gemayel, Head of the Kataeb Youth.

On Friday June 27, 2008, His Excellency the President of Lebanon, General Michel Sleiman received Walid Maalouf, President of LARP who formally invited the President to the opening ceremony as the major speaker at the conference.

LARP is committed to supporting the civil society and civic institutions of Lebanon, to lifting up the spirit of the Lebanese people, and assisting the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other agencies of the United States in their effort to promote economic growth in Lebanon and to foster peace, stability and democratic institutions in Lebanon in an efforts to enhance the sovereignty and freedom of Lebanon.