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The
most recent projects performed by Tomorrow's Advice relating
to Industry and Services development are described below.
 Industrial
Modernization Programme
Power
Sector - Financial Management
Pharmaceutical
Sector Study
Study
on the Estimated Damages to a Middle Eastern Pharmaceutical
Company
Solid
Waste Management
Tele
Liban
Health
Care Services - Private Hospital
Evaluation
of the "One Percent Turnover Tax" and its impact
on Industry
Industrial Modernization Programme
The Industrial Modernization Programme is a European Union
funded project to support the development of private sector
manufacturing in Lebanon, with particular emphasis on established
SMEs in the food processing, printing, and packaging industries.
The Project includes managing a European Union grant of 11
Million Euro to provide Technical Assistance to the Lebanese
Industry. Assistance includes Access to Markets, Product Development,
Management Information Systems, Accounting and Financial Systems,
Financing, and Networking. Tomorrow's Advice together with
three other Consortium members (French, Italian, and Greek)
form the Project Management Unit (PMU). Tomorrow's Advice
as the Local Consultant performs Quality Assurance and provides
advice and input to the team. 50% of the PMU team is assigned
to Tomorrow's Advice professionals, 30 % is assigned to the
French consortium leader and 20 % to the Italian member.
The main objectives of the Project are to: Improve the performance
of manufacturing companies particularly in the target sectors;
Open new domestic and export niches; Facilitate access to
long term financing and capital investment; Develop partnership
with EU companies; Develop the skills of specialized business
support services and business support organizations, including
industrial zones; and Improve the business environment and
enterprise policy.
The Programme is currently scheduled for a term of three years
and a half (3.5) starting May 2001, with the Government and
the European Union's intention to formalize the system of
assistance and create a permanent Center for Industry Modernization
in Lebanon towards the end of the project term.
Power Sector - Financial Management
The Project funded by the World Bank included a Co-Management
function of EDL's financial affairs for a period of three
(3) years ended in May 2001. It was implemented in Joint Venture
with PriceWaterHouseCoopers ("PWC" formally "Coopers
& Lybrand"). Tomorrow's Advice was assigned Technical
Oversight and Project Management. Ms. Chammas-Mrad was contractually
assigned as Project Manager by EDL and the World Bank.
A team of seven (7) professionals served this Project and
completed successfully their assignments.
Several issues that improve use of financial resources at
the Finance Department of the Electricité du Liban ("EDL")
have been identified, analyzed, and reported. Among others,
impact of efficiency and savings is analyzed to increase the
margin of support to Local Industry and below poverty line
customers. Recommendations were addressed to EDL and public
sector officials.
Pharmaceutical Sector Study
"Promoting Pharmaceutical Exports Based on a Regional
Market Study" falls within the Regional Project to support
Arab States in their Pursuit of Economic and Social Reform
and Multi-lateral Economic Cooperation. This study was extensive
and included details on Stakeholders of the sector, Institutional
Framework, Status of the Industry in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
The Report described main issues and recommendations and provided
stakeholders with an Action Plan for sector progress.
The Project was done based on a Contract with UNOPS via UNDP-Lebanon
and the Ministry of Economy and Trade, the Association of
Lebanese Industrialists, Syndicate of Lebanese Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers, other professional syndicates, and the Trade
Information Center. Recommendations were addressed to Industry,
Private Sector, and Public Sector.
Tomorrow's Advice exceptional contribution earned the firm
"copyrights" to the Study. The Study was turned
into a published Report disseminated to interested sectors
and banks.
Study on the Estimated Damages to a
Middle Eastern Pharmaceutical Company
The Project includes a damage assessment to a Middle Eastern
pharmaceutical company due to an alleged breach of contract
by a foreign company Joint Venture shareholder with the Middle
Eastern company. The Business objective of the Joint Venture
is to produce high quality generic medicaments and to access
the Middle East and North African Market.
The Project's scope of services includes Data Collection,
Data Analysis, and Reporting. A thorough review of the relevant
agreement and related material, review of all financial data,
production related processes, and the company's local market
shall be conducted. Data analysis will follow to tie formulas
to the market and translate to estimated turnover, estimate
financial benefit to the Middle Eastern company from turnover
of analyzed formulas, relate findings to the Company's operations,
and estimate the financial impact.
Solid Waste Management
Tomorrow's Advice performed a study fully documenting the
status of Solid Waste Management including related Industry
and Services in Lebanon and impact of deficiencies on the
environment. A UNDP-LIFE initiative, this study included identification
of waste issues, pollution, sources, current processing, problems
facing private and public sectors and proposed recommendations
for integrated solutions involving all stakeholders. Recommendations
were addressed to Public Sector.
Tele Liban
Tele Liban ("TL") faced restructuring due to its
poor financial situation. TL employees were being let go.
Their indemnity packages were evaluated and calculated by
TL. Tomorrow's Advice performed the review of Calculations
and Records of the Exceptional "End of Services Indemnity"
of Tele Liban employees including the permanent, contractual,
daily, and other workers.
Services provided within this mission included legal compliance
with regulations, laws and contractual obligations as well
as proposed resolutions to exceptions found.
Health Care Services - Private Hospital
The Project includes a comprehensive plan for modernization
of Health care service delivery at the Hospital in compliance
with Laws and Regulations. Extensive policy research and comparison
with other competitive Middle East Health care providers is
done to assess margin of competitiveness and growth potential.
Recommendations are addressed to Hospital Management.
Evaluation of the "One Percent
Turnover Tax" and its impact on Industry
The Lebanese Ministry of Finance proposed a new tax in 1998:
"The One Percent Turnover Tax". For the benefit
of the Lebanese Parliament, the tax impact on Industry and
business development was analyzed and reported on.
The Study included the evaluation of the cascade effect inflating
production cost and impacting Industry's ability to compete
in the Lebanese market considering the low protection, open
trade policy, as well as foreign markets. Recommendations
were addressed to Public Sector officials.
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