Abstract:
Though the Free Zone of Beirut was created almost
half a century ago, it only began its real function a
short while after the end of the Second World War when international trade resumed once again its normal
movement.
The Free Zone definitely helped and influenced the
economy in giving many advantages to its different
sectors. Transit to the neighbouring Arab countries,
for instance, was much encouraged. Trade increased and
the Free Zone became and international market, a warehousing
and distribution center.
Manufacturers took advantage of cheaper raw materials
available at the Free Zone, set up installations to
compete with foreign produced goods imported to the Arab world and to Africa. Businessmen have been much encouraged
to increase their imports, due to the re-exportation
facilities in case the Lebanese market failed to absorb
the whole imported lot. Others, who did not have the
required capital to import, were given the opportunity
to choose any quantity, however small, from a wide line of products in the Free Zone. Transport, with the
availability of return cargo, became cheaper amd more regular,
this to the profit of the whole economy.
At least, because of the intense traffic created by
the Free Zone until the year 1975, more income is accuring to the port company as well as to the employment sector
of the economy. In general, all of the above mentioned
factors added up to a net increase in the national
economy of the country before the year 1975, while from 1975 and on the same factors mentioned, become a burden on the net worth of the country's national economy and
specially with respect to traffic, unemployment balance
of trade, industry at the Free Zone.
