Establishment :

The Beirut Traders Association was founded in April 1921 by the following Lebanese businessmen: Abdallah Beyhum, Alfred Nasr, Georges Acouri, Muhieddine Nsouli, Hassan Bohsali, Moustapha Ahdab, Georges Cassir, Georges Saad, Hachem Barrage, Nassim Tayar, Mohammad N. Kraytem and attested by an official acknowledgement based on Article 6 of the Associations' law dated 3 August 1909.

Many of its members had acceeded to official positions in the Council of Ministers or in the Parliament. It has a large autonomy and a wide liberty of action and represents a powerful lobying force.

Its advice is praised in the official circles.

Constitution :

It is formed by 3 main bodies:

One- A General Assembly grouping the Beirut Traders registered as members of the Association.

Two- A Board of Directors of 24 members elected by the General Assembly and representing the different commercial sectors and Beirut commercial areas commonly known as the Souks areas commercial.

c- An Executive Bureau of eight members elected by the Board of Directors.

· The position of the members of the Board is purely honorary.

Objects :

The main objects of the Association are :

1- To protect the interests of the Lebanese traders in general and of its members in particular.

2- To promote and encourage Free Trade which constitutes the basis of the Lebanese Economy.

3- To promote the Private Initiative which constitutes the basis of Free Competition.

4- To defend the Lebanese Banking Secrecy Act.

5- In the framework of its mission, it has the responsibility to inform, initiate and assist the traders of Beirut about any local, regional or international economic change and development.

Assistance:

To assist the Business community by resolving any commercial problem such as :

1- Establishment's Goodwill.

2- Sole Agencies (goverment decree no 34 dated 11-7-1968).

3- Rent legislations.

4- Fiscality - Commercial Registry.

5- Social problems : charges, subscribtions, traders' relations with the Social Security Board, Labor laws…

6- Custom duties and formalities.

Information:

Through distribution of leaflets, documentation, Newsletters, installation of a legal counseling and advice information desk at the Association .

Consultation:

In the framework of its mission, the Association had been the initiator of many goverment decrees and laws among which we quote :

1- No. 11 dated 11 July 1967 on the Establishment's Goodwill, articles 40 and 41 of the Commercial Code.

2- No. 34 dated 5 August 1967 defining the Commercial Representation.

3- No. 35 dated 5 August 1967 additional article to chapter no.11 of the Commercial Code about Limited Responsability Companies.

4- Decree No. 9800 dated 4-5-1968 modifying article 16 of the Commercial Code about Accounting Books.

5- Promoter and defender of Liberal Economy and Free Competition, it had opposed in 1972 a government luxury tax decree and obliged the government to reconsider its decision through a one week strike.

6- No. 9640 dated 6-2-1975 changing article 13 of the Labor Legislation.

Decoration

In recognition of its distinguished services to the Lebanese Economy.

the Association was bestowed by the President of the Republic:

- The Cedar National Order Medal with the Knight rank, decree no. 81

on 4-3-1972 .

- The Cedar National Order Medal with the Commander rank, decree no. 8139 on 6-6-1996