QOOT Cluster, the Lebanese agri-food cluster for innovation, has recently announced the creation of three technical committees. These committees aim to promote competitiveness and internationalization within the industry by identifying new trends, potential markets, areas of communication, stakeholders and partners. The committees were initiated by the Board of QOOT cluster as an inclusive and engaging activity to implement its strategy.
Introduction of the Technical Committees
The created technical committees are the i. Innovation, Research & Development Committee ii. Export & Trade Facilitation Committee and iii. Communication & Public Affairs Committee.
The Innovation, Research & Development Committee’s purpose is to identify new trends in R&D&I, suggest potential topics of interest for the local context, consolidate a list of potential stakeholders and go-to persons, and suggest potential collaborations and activations.
The Export & Trade Facilitation Committee aims to identify potential markets and market opportunities, consolidate a list of potential stakeholders, and suggest corresponding activities.
The Communication & Public Affairs Committee will define QOOT’s positioning with respect to external stakeholders, identify areas of flagship communication, and suggest potential stakeholders to outreach to.
“Legal intervention provides a framework for how the committee should operate within the boundaries of the bylaws and the Lebanese laws. This framework ensures that the committee operates within the bounds of its authority and does not overstep its bounds. It also establishes membership requirements, reporting requirements, and ensures that the committee as a group act in the best interests of QOOT Cluster.”
Me. Magalie Boustany, QOOT Cluster Legal Counsel
Members of the Technical Committees
The committees consist of several members, selected based on their readiness to volunteer, and their level of expertise in the corresponding committee topic.
The Innovation, Research & Development Committee includes Rana Abdou (Arcenciel), Melissa Abs (Bites of Delight), Jad Atallah (Smart Gourmet – Flavva), Marc Beyrouthy (Nature by Marc Beyrouthy), Elia El Beainou (Cave des Ours), Bahaa Kadamani (Grapeful), Nabil Shuman (Agriplus – Shuman Chicken), Yasmina Skaff (Skaff Dairy Farm), and Georges Youssef (AgroCedrus), with Samer Toutaunji (Eshmoon Holistics) as the chairperson and Rimane Aziz (Agrofitt) as the reporter.
The Export & Trade Facilitation Committee includes Elie Bou Khaled (Cherry Good – Grabit SARL), Youssef Fares (Zejd – Olive Trade), Nadia Haidar (Khoury Agriculture Center – Muse), Maya Khattar (Rechmaya Distillery), David Massoud (Atibaia Winery), Walid Mushantaf (Green and Pure – Bustan El Zeitoun), Fadi Sarkis (Natagri), and Chadi Tannous (The Three Brothers Gin), with Roy Harb (Parsare – Ayadina) as the chairperson and Nour Bazzaz (Bazco Group – Raw Bites) as the reporter.
The Communication & Public Affairs Committee includes Paul Eid (209 Lebanese Wine), Nadine El Khoury (Robinson Agri), Wassim El Kaakour (Lebanese Genco Olive Oil), Nathalie Kazan (Delta Group), Nemer Mansour (Niman SAL), Ramy Nehme (Irma & Co – Figholding), Khaled Sinno (Karma), and Valerie Zakka (Zakka Technologies), with Fady Aziz (The Good Thymes) as the chairperson and Ara Salkhanian (Soler’s) as the reporter.
The creation of the technical committees is instrumental for the governance of the cluster; it reflects the members-oriented approach, aiming to implement more targeted and impactful activities.
Dr. Marc Bou Zeidan, QOOT Cluster Manager
In conclusion, the creation of these technical committees is an important milestone for QOOT Cluster, positively impacting the governance and outcomes of the cluster.
