BEIRUT, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Saturday that Lebanon has around 136 illegal borders on its territories which should be shut down to protect the Lebanese market from the smuggling of foreign products.
"These illegal borders are killing our economy and industry and we need a political and security decision to shut them down and to stop protecting those who smuggle products from nearby countries," Bassil was quoted as saying by the National News Agency.
The minister's remarks came during his meeting with industrialists in Jbeil, Mount of Lebanon.
Bassil assured that there is a need to protect certain kinds of industries which will generate revenues for the government.
"But this subject was never tackled in the council of ministers because there is a political decision not to protect local industries. We should stop these policies and commit to protecting our industries," he said.
Over a month ago, Lebanese industrialists announced a state of industrial emergency in Lebanon, calling upon officials to take quick measures to save the sector from further deterioration.
