Minister of Industry in the caretaker government, MP George Bouchikian, honored nine young men and women under the age of thirty, awarding them plaques and certificates of appreciation for founding startups in technology, science, finance, trade, and social impact; they come from various regions of Lebanon. The American magazine Forbes published a report about them, including: Rine Metlej from Akkar (social impact), Hassan Jafar from Beirut (trade and finance), Mark Aoun from Jezzine (social impact), Paulo Khayat from Kfarshima (trade and finance), Basel Jalaleddin from Sidon (social impact), Hussein Ayoub from Tyre (social impact), Luma Makari from Akkar (social impact), Ghassan Oweidat from Shihim (science and technology), and Nour Suleiman from Sidon (science and technology).
Bouchikian delivered a speech saying, "Welcome, and I wish you a Merry Christmas, as I do to all Lebanese. May the birth of Jesus the Savior bring us joy, peace, and stability for Lebanon. The importance of what you have accomplished and excelled in creating is evident in the leading American magazine Forbes, which publishes investigations about celebrities. You reflect Lebanese success, strong will, determination, creativity, excellence in invention, designs, science, and technology. You raise Lebanon's name high. You have established startups, and you are under thirty years old. This is an achievement in itself."
He continued, "What is even more striking and calls for pride in you is your belonging to different Lebanese territories from Akkar to Tyre, up to Jezzine, passing through the capital, Beirut. This indicates the spread of Lebanese intelligence and the excellence of Lebanese young men and women in whatever region they are in. I congratulate you again and wish you more progress, perseverance, and success. I extend my holiday greetings, hoping that the new year brings with it faith and hope for a better tomorrow and future."
