Hariri Says Government Must Improve Employment Opportunities for the Youth

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said on Tuesday that the Lebanese government must look into improving the employment opportunities for the youth to build human capabilities, and to maintain Lebanon's “special” position in the region and world.

“I believe that one of the most important responsibilities of the state now is to improve employment opportunities for young men and women in Lebanon, and to create a climate of confidence and hope for the younger generation, which is the future of our country,” said Hariri at the opening of the Outreach and Leadership Academy (OLA) in Beirut downtown.

“Not just because Rafik Hariri loved them the most and believed that our human capital is our greatest asset, but also because I am convinced that learning and acquiring knowledge are the only ways to build human capabilities, to achieve a significant leap in the great potential of our economy and to maintain our preferential advantages in the region and the world,” added Hariri.

He went on to say: “This project gives the youth, at their schools, universities, and professions the skills and abilities that increase their chances in getting a job after graduation, or the chances to succeed in the individual initiative in their profession, and at the same time, it renews their hope to achieve their dreams and ambitions.”

“I feel even more proud today that the OLA Center is being launched in Beirut specifically, because our goal is to restore the role of our capital as an incubator of the ambition and creativity of its sons and daughters and all the Lebanese,” concluded Hariri.