At Frem’s Initiative… A Grand Official Ceremony for the Reopening of Jounieh Port

After a long absence, a new window of hope has opened on Lebanon’s shore.

Under the patronage of the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, and at the initiative of MP Neemat Frem, Jounieh Port officially reopened, its basin once again lighting up the map of Mediterranean tourist ports, in a grand ceremony held under a slogan that summed up the dream: “The Port of Jounieh… A Sea of Opportunities.”

The event was attended by Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny, representing President Aoun; Minister of Tourism Laura El-Khazen Lahoud; Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab; several MPs from Keserwan, Jbeil, and other districts; former MPs; the representative of the Army Commander; military and security officials from various agencies; governors and district commissioners; directors general; customs officials; the Patriarchal Vicar for Jounieh; presidential palace officials; ambassadors; judges; party leaders and representatives; the president of the Maronite League; heads of municipal unions in Keserwan and Jbeil; the mayor of Jounieh alongside municipal council members and mukhtars; the Fishermen’s Syndicate; travel agencies; stakeholders in marine tourism and maritime transport; the Jounieh Traders Committee; the Civil Defense Rescue Unit; the Red Cross; the director of Jounieh Port; figures from the Economic Committees; the Maronite Foundation in the World;  the Georges Frem Foundation; and Project Watan, in addition to a large number of local, Arab, and international media representatives, as well as religious, social, and cultural figures, family association leaders, and a wide array of public personalities.

After the national anthem, journalist Amal Elias welcomed the crowd on behalf of MP Neemat Frem, saying: “Welcome aboard this journey back to life, through the gateway of Jounieh Port, returning as a heartbeat to revive Jounieh, Keserwan, Mount-Lebanon and the entire nation. It carries a sea of opportunities, with doors wide open for visitors and prosperity, inviting the whole world to Lebanon.”

Frem’s Speech

The Chairman of Project Watan’s Executive Board, MP Neemat Frem, opened his speech by welcoming the attendees, saying their “presence in Keserwan fills our hearts with joy and pride.”

He thanked president Joseph Aoun for sponsoring the project and minister Rasamny for representing him at the event, praising Rasamny’s unwavering support and special efforts to reopen Jounieh Port. “Minister Rasamny believed in this project, and without that belief we would not be celebrating this inauguration today. Jounieh and Keserwan will never forget this day.”

Frem also thanked the Director General of Land and Maritime Transport, Dr. Ahmad Tamer, and his team, who “worked day and night to make this event a reality.”

“I am well aware of the hardships state institutions face,” he added. “Through Dr. Tamer, I salute every director general in the country and remind them: you are the torchbearers working in the shadows. You are the ones keeping the state alive – the fighters in the dark.”

He extended his thanks to the Municipality of Jounieh for supporting the creation of “Harbor Square,” designed to welcome arriving and departing tourists with high-end facilities, a suitable atmosphere, and exceptional logistical support, making travel to and from Lebanon pleasant and comfortable.

Frem emphasized that the project would never have seen the light without the private sector. “It is a duty for the private sector to stand by the state in these difficult times,” he said, noting that Lebanon’s current budget is only $4.5 billion compared to $18 billion in the past. He thanked the Georges Frem Foundation for its relentless work on this project and urged all supporting institutions to stand with the public sector. “This is the time to do so. We must treat the state like our parents when they grow old or fall ill – we stand by them under all circumstances.”

He also welcomed Minister of Tourism Laura El-Khazen Lahoud, thanking her for attending and for her initiative in reopening the enchanting Jeita Grotto. “We are continuing that journey here today,” he noted.

Turning to the topic of Jounieh Port itself, Frem said: “We see this port through the eyes of three generations: the generation of the 1960s remembers prosperity and blessings, with the bay hosting some of the most beautiful sporting events in the Middle East and the world, when Lebanon was known as the Paris and the Switzerland of the East; the war generations of the 1970s and 1980s remember it as a lifeline to the world and a breath of hope despite fear, bombing, and grief. We recall nights of danger, when ships could not approach the shore and people were forced to use small boats. And we remember a specific tragedy – the night the Azar family lost two children in a capsized boat due to shelling, while others survived, including my wife Zeina, who spent four hours lost at sea. Thank God she survived.

As for the third generation, which we represent today alongside our children, we see this port as the harbor of a new era for Lebanon – one of joy, beauty, and prosperity. A harbor that attracts tourists, not one to flee from.”

The lawmaker then presented his vision for the port from three dimensions. “First, we have the duty to reactivate this port. It is a talent placed in our hands, one of Lebanon’s dormant assets. Before asking the international community to fund massive projects, we must revive the ‘sleeping projects’ we already have. Second, this port is Lebanon’s gateway to Europe. We are just 200 km away from Cyprus, which means from Europe. Hence, its essential role is to once again serve as Lebanon’s natural bridge between East and West. Third, our goal is to attract tourists from Cyprus. Cyprus receives over 5 million tourists annually. If we draw just 2% of them – about 100,000 tourists – we will have launched a major tourism project from Lebanon’s heart.”

Frem admitted that paperwork and permits had delayed the arrival of a ship this season, but he insisted: “The port is ready. The initiative is open to all. And if no one takes it, we will – for we will not let this line stop.”

Addressing the broader national context, Frem declared: “From this platform in Jounieh, before public opinion and the international community, I say: Lebanon is living truly historic moments – moments tied to the very existence and continuity of our entity. We stand hand in hand with the presidents of the republic and the government, for much is required of them, and the eyes of the world, and of the Lebanese, are on them and on us: can we implement what we pledged before the world or not? Can we govern ourselves or not? If, God forbid, we prove incapable, we doom ourselves to being labeled a failed state and enter the cycle of redrawing maps currently underway in the region. It is our duty to prove Lebanon is a strong and enduring entity. These are truly decisive days.”

He concluded by outlining Keserwan’s development priorities: the expansion of the Jounieh highway and Jeita road, and the completion of the Ouyoun el-Simane road, which he called “a project with major returns at minimal cost.” He added: “Ouyoun el-Simane’s snow is the snow of the entire East and the Arab world. How can we not ensure access to it due to road congestion? We hope to hear good news soon, as the matter is under study. I thank you all once again for joining us tonight, and hope that with the reopening of Jounieh Port, we will see the most beautiful image of the Lebanon of tomorrow… the new Lebanon.”

Minister Rasamny

In turn, Minister of Public Works Fayez Rasamny hailed the port’s reopening as proof of the effectiveness of public-private partnerships.

“I am honored to represent the President of the Republic and join you today at Jounieh Port. I started my day in Jounieh and I am ending it in Jounieh, as we also held a very productive meeting with local stakeholders and MPs to discuss the Jounieh highway topic and the severe traffic congestion we witnessed this summer. Still, the season was highly successful, and if the flow of July and August continues at Beirut Airport, it should be upgraded to handle 12 million passengers, while it currently accommodates only 6 million. Of course, there was congestion, but despite everything, operations went smoothly thanks to the cooperation between the Ministries of Public Works and Interior, General Security, and customs. All in all, it was a very successful summer season.”

Rasamny then expressed hope for good news soon regarding the Jounieh Highway. “We formed a committee to rehabilitate it, address issues with property owners concerning expropriations, and receive all complaints. While the law already allows us to start work, we prefer to listen to their concerns and resolve them as quickly as possible.”

On the Jounieh Port project, he said: “MP Neemat Frem raised this matter with me during my very first week in office, and I asked him for two things: first, support from his team to help prepare the file given the 90% staffing shortage in public administration; and second, my readiness to sign it. We hope this will serve as a model for public-private partnership to the benefit of citizens.”

However, Rasamny underlined that stability remains the essential prerequisite for progress. “We must start somewhere, and we have already seen the effect of stability this summer,” he said, drawing a comparison between Lebanon and Cyprus: “Cyprus has four airports and receives 5 million tourists during the summer season, while Lebanon welcomes about 1.5 million. If the private sector, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, operates the port and ferries between Lebanon and Cyprus – just a four-hour journey – we could attract tourists and boost the economy year-round, not only in summer. This would benefit the 400 guesthouses across the country, as well as hotels. The Ministry of Public Works is doing its part, but we need your support and the private sector’s commitment.”

Speaking of Tripoli port, he added: “The foundation stone was laid years ago, and today it is a vital facility that provides jobs, serves as a transit hub, and has maintained its output without decline. Increasing the number of ports in Lebanon is a positive development, as each facility has its own specialty: Beirut Port for imports and exports, Tripoli Port for transit and Syria’s reconstruction, and Jounieh Port for tourism.”

He also thanked Minister Lahoud for her work alongside him on the public-private partnership law. “As a government, we requested certain amendments since the country’s situation has changed drastically since 2019 – banks have collapsed, investors are wary – so we must encourage them to invest in Lebanon. Thanks to Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab’s support, we are now at the final stages, and the Higher Council should be formed soon.”

Rasamny concluded by pointing to “the interest of many Arab investors in Kleiat Airport” and expressing hope that “Jounieh port will soon witness heavy traffic of ships – not only to Cyprus but also linking Beirut, Jounieh, and Tripoli – until the Jounieh Highway is complete.”

Ribbon Cutting

The ceremony also featured a short film retracing the port’s history, from its days of closure to the major upgrades and improvements it has undergone.

At sunset, following the ribbon-cutting and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, attendees toured the facility to view the new equipment both inside and outside the port.

The event concluded with live music and a cocktail reception. A cake was cut to mark this long-awaited occasion, fireworks lit up Jounieh’s sky, and a festive boat parade with a traditional zaffe band filled the air with joy and celebration.

It is noteworthy that Jounieh Port was reopened after three decades of closure, thanks to a collective effort that marked both a symbolic and practical milestone. The project is expected to generate significant tourism revenues and act as an economic catalyst for Lebanon – a clear demonstration that productivity and development are best achieved through constructive public-private cooperation.