Planning for Industrial Development in Lebanon: An Integrative Strategy and Policy Framework for Architecting a 'Modern Industrial Environment'

Lebanon is experiencing non-traditional challenges on the economic level, that require searching for appropriate and consistent means with the nature of these challenges considering the approach needed and the process of solving these problems. This prominent "economic challenge" facing Lebanon should be approached as being correlative in its tools and effects with the global economic transformation towards a "knowledge economy". This required study explains the importance of developing the "industrial sector" in Lebanon as a basic pillar for modernizing the Lebanese economy. Using "policy planning" approach, the study shows the means required for transforming from a "consumer society" to a "producing/industrial society", by adopting the strategy of modern/late industrialization and supporting the industrial sector. This study mainly identifies strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities in the industrial sector in Lebanon by analyzing Lebanon's "industrial environment" based on official data, and designs a framework of "policy choices" that constitute the required base for planning the development of Lebanese industry. The possible integration between these options can architect an industrial environment that supports the transformation towards a production society and a knowledge economy, mainly through: adopting structural planning and shifting towards industrial decentralization, supporting the productive sectors, developing the national knowledge base, enhancing the technological capacity of industrial facilities, and building modern industrial zones. This study concludes a set of practical recommendations that determine the starting point for industrial development in Lebanon.