WATANI… A Breeze of Hope for Small Local Businesses in Lebanon
Lebanese local businesses are currently facing unprecedented challenges. This blog post shared by Jacqueline Saadeh who lives abroad sheds the light on Watani Initiative. Learn more what Jacqueline has to say below.
What is Happening to Local Lebanese Businesses?
“Fresh Money”, “capital restriction”, “dollar inflation”… expressions that I’ve never heard of before 2020. Then again, I’m not an expert on the matter, far from it…
At every gathering with friends and family, on local and international TV news and talk-shows, and sometimes with non-lebanese people who heard about the “situation” in Lebanon, the Lebanese economical and financial crisis is the main topic and the center of every conversation.
The situation is so dire that it definitely outranked Covid-19 with all its negative impact, which, cherry on the top, didn’t make things easier at all (because problems do often come in pairs).
So, backed up with zero knowledge in sales and marketing, and surrounded by all this chaos of new technical terms and economics jargon, I can’t help but put myself in the shoes of our small local Lebanese businesses and share their feelings and fears of finding their work in jeopardy, in a very rude and sudden way.
What Does the Future Hold for Them?
Their usual customers and clients now limit their expenses on mere necessities like food and basic healthcare, so their sales drop/decrease.
Most of their raw materials and supplies (i.e packaging) are imported, therefore charged only in USD, a currency as rare as gold nowadays, resulting in production shutdown or slowdown.
The pandemic and lockdown don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, so these businesses are now forced to shift to online sales. Unfortunately most of them -not to say all of them- weren’t ready yet.
WATANI a Breeze of Hope
Here comes the role of a platform called WATANI, an initiative created by professional volunteers to make these small businesses go global, from a limited local market to an international one. Behind these kinds of businesses are family histories, young talents, handcrafts, creative Lebanese people who have a sure potential of growing, but either lack skills in online marketing, or simply don’t have the budget to invest in something bigger.
WATANI thrives to give them an exposure outside Lebanon through their platform, help them sell their products proudly labeled “Made in Lebanon” and withdraw some “Fresh money” entirely in USD, so they can consequently buy what is needed to sustain a good quality production line, in light of the continuous devaluation of the Lebanese pound.
I’m a Lebanese living abroad, and my heart itches when I see Lebanese dreams and hopes being trapped in a vicious cycle of income shortage and production shutdown, nonetheless in a pandemic environment.
With the lack of a proper government support and vision, an initiative such as WATANI deserves to be highlighted and encouraged, in order to preserve what’s left of the Lebanese producers’ dignity. Their creativity and enthusiasm are beyond measures, and they deserve nothing but a push from each one of us, hoping that one day we can see our Lebanese local brands shine independently on a global level.
Meanwhile, let’s go online, check WATANI’s website and do a first – oh so satisfying- step.
Jacqueline Saadeh
Featured photo credit: Hiba Al Kallas
