3rd December 2012 Beirut, Lebanon
A Match Made in Heaven: Can Online Dating Transform British/Lebanese Trade?
Britain and Lebanon are great traders, on the edge of our continents. The Phoenicians were masters of global trade 7000 years ago. Our moment came several millennia later, but we also built our success, in the 19th century, on the back of a readiness to pioneer, to voyage, and to do business.
Diplomats cling to trade stats. In a profession defined by fluffy platitudes (how do you measure ‘warm bilateral relations’?), they give us something concrete. Here in Beirut, Lebanese imports were up 49% over the last year, and British exports up 7%. We have opened a new British brand every month this year, and held a massive British week in June.
Last week, I was with the Central Bank Governor and the Chairmen of Lebanon’s biggest banks in London, to launch Monday’s trading at the Stock Exchange, and to show investors the real Lebanon – resilient, talented, energetic. This morning I was with British companies that are looking to be part of Lebanon’s high potential gas sector, generating jobs and growth in the UK and here in Lebanon.
But we’re ambitious for much more. Especially as we aim to trade our way out of the financial crisis – PM David Cameron has set us a global target of 1 trillion GBP of trade by 2020, of which Lebanon’s share is £750m. That won’t happen by itself.
So we have to think beyond the traditional approach to direct bilateral trade, and to caffeinate our effort. In a networked world, every country has to play to its advantages. The UK’s great strengths, apart from the language of business and the internet, have always been creation, invention and innovation – electricity, the ‘phone, the web. Lebanon’s strength is its location – the potential hub once again for the region, the pivot between East and West, maybe even the next Dubai or Singapore.
This will take the right leadership, and the right infrastructure: 24/7 power, the internet, and rule of law. It will also require Lebanon to leverage its diaspora. The Lebanese are everywhere where there is business to be done – Rio is the largest Lebanese city, and Lebanon has big success stories, including not one but two Carlos: Ghosn (Chairman of Renault & Nissan) and Slim. Expat remittances to Lebanon were a staggering $8.2bn last year.
How can we better link the innovators of Britain with the distributors of Lebanon? Online dating. Internet matchmaking is massive: 40 million Americans and 140m Chinese have tried it.
For the next generation, it will be the most popular way to seek a partner. We need to use that technology and infrastructure to internet matchmake UK and Lebanese traders. So a person with an idea in Glasgow can find the person with the network in Lebanon, to crack a market in DRC. Such networks could also better withstand regional instability.
The UK’s Tech City is one model for future tech hubs.
But to do this, we need ideas and expertise. We are searching for smart Lebanese or British tech-savvy individuals to set up the Britain/Beirut Online Business Hub, with our encouragement. If you’re that willing volunteer, please contact our UKTI team.
After that, over to business. Let’s spread the love. Cue Barry White. Fade.
Let’s put your talk into practice, please: I’m a currently jobless diplomat of 34, you could watch me live on my ANYCOMMUNICATIONS1 and Independent European Diplomat(”Diplomatic Public Communications on YouTube, and I’ve been starting to spend ALL NIGHTS CONTINOUSLY alone and by myself, since 9(!!!!!!!!!) years ago, because: I need a man to be presented to me by a trusthworthy enough person because I’ve worked hard to become a not-socialist diplomat and I believe in protocol, more and less.And I want: a military(from NATO??) to be in Romania where I live, now or a diplomat for me: btwn 5”9 and 6”9 height, ages 34-49 or around(not younger than me please), Chrestian, healthy, not-talkative, wealthy enough as my parents have 2 properties, practically interested in me first and looking to satisfy me and my goals only, not-cheaty or perverse,Never married before(could it be possible)?, bright, honest like I am, not-Socialist like I am, high-educated, nice(enough), trustworthy, always single(still experienced somehow, of course)sportive-looking still slim like I am too…have you all died or already got married, you ‘professionals’ worldwide? (Thank you, Your Excelency mr.Ambassador Harris for you’re by my side from the distance). I don’t know, but the idiocy and no-will and not flirty still very agressive and rude and primitive nature of ‘professionals’ from you, worldwide and in EU and Asia first(!?)brought me to despair…
Thank you Amy. My article is aimed at using matchmaking technology to link businesses. But it was kind of you to get in touch, and I hope that you find the man of your dreams. He sounds quite a catch.
Is her answer for real?! I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in a long long time!
Bless 🙂
…And my comments are still awaiting moderation?! wow
Patience, patience. Got there in the end.
Following up on my previous comment, I just want to correct my last sentence which I meant to say ‘but I wouldn’t expect quick results’.
I would certainly explore creating business / trade portals to assist trade and business between the two countries, however would FCO consider sponsoring / partnering up with such a project?
Dear Tom,
Great piece and couldn’t agree more. I am a British citizen in Lebanon; the ideas and expertise are available, and I fully understand both the Lebanese and UK markets; however, as rightly mentioned in your piece, we lack basic infrastructure in Lebanon.
24/7 power and internet infrastructure is absolutely basic when compared to the UK, and the ‘online dating’ is not a business trend here in Lebanon.
One other very important point is that Lebanon is a very small market, very local in character, and for this great trade partnership to work, the overall economical market in Lebanon needs to improve. I’ve seen great international brands that come and go.
Having said that, maybe it’s a good time to set up these ‘online’ portals with the future in mind, but I would expect quick results.
Regards,
Hani
Many thanks Hani, for your enthusiasm and ideas. Basically, I think that the response has to be driven by the private sector. Governments can highlight the opportunities for business, and give advice on how to do it. But I’m hoping that invdividual business people will lead this effort. Over to you …