Population: 949,197 (2016)
Districts: Minnieh-Dinnieh, Zgharta, Tripoli, Koura, Bcharreh, Batroun
Administrative Center: Tripoli
Number of municipalities: 144
Number of Projects that benefited from IDAL’s incentives: 6
Unemployment rate: 8%

LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY:

The North Lebanon Governorate spans along the Mediterranean coast, limited by the Akkar Governorate to its North, the Baalback-Hermel Governorate to its East, and the Mount Lebanon Governorate to its South.

The governorate has an average altitude ranging between 0 on its coat to 3100 above sea level. It is home to Qornet el Sawda, the highest peak in Lebanon and the Levant, situated at 3,088 meters above sea level. It is composed of urbanized, mixed rural areas mainly concentrated around the city of Tripoli, Lebanon’s second largest city after Beirut, as well as natural areas in the rest of the territory. It is crossed by the Jaouz, Abou Ali, and Nahr-el-Bared rivers.

MAIN ECONOMIC INDICATORS:

• 70% of local labor force engaged in industrial and wholesale and retail trade activities
• Industry and whole sale and retail sectors contribute more than 75% to North Lebanon’s gross value added

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:

• 15% of the governorate area classified as agricultural area
• 62% of North Lebanon’s cultivated lands used for the cultivation of olives
• 27% of packing centers located in North Lebanon
• 545 companies operating in the region with around 48% in Tripoli
• 28% of the industrial firms operating in the agro-food sector
• More than 150 religious touristic attractions

• Home to the second largest and fastest-growing sea port, the port of Tripoli
• The second largest exporter of fruits and vegetables in the country

• The second highest share of labor force in the country
• Home to 18% of the Lebanese universities branches and 10,441 registered students in the Lebanese University
• The highest share of Lebanon’s public technical schools and students

• The third largest share of Kafalat Loans in Lebanon

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

The furniture cluster in Tripoli has all the right elements to flourish, supported by various upcoming opportunities in the city that are expected to boost the sector and make it more competitive. It is mainly concentrated in 3 areas of Tripoli and operates across the value chain, from processing wood to manufacturing, sales, and transportation.

• Around 500 craftsmen with a diversified range of products
• The second largest share of total industrial firms in North Lebanon
• Concentration of furniture factories in 3 areas of Tripoli
• High quality experienced craftsmanship at competitive costs
• Strong design capacity and brand recognition in Beirut
• Two associations governing and protecting the sector
• Funding support from International Organizations

North Lebanon is allocating 62% of its agricultural area to olives cultivation with around 50% of total olive trees in Lebanon and 274 olive mills. This has created a high potential of growth and development for the sector especially that the production of olive oil in Lebanon had increased from 6 thousand tons in 1990 to 23 thousand tons in 2017.

• 93% of Koura’s agriculture territory is dedicated for olive cultivation
• Home to 50% of total olive mills in Lebanon
• 34% of total Lebanon's olive oil exports are from North Lebanon
• 28% of industrial firms operating in agribusiness  
• Support of the EU-Lebanon Association Agreement (AA)