Head of the Independence Movement Michel Moawad said Monday that sustainable development transcends all political, sectarian and geographic boundaries, stressing that human capacity building should represent a top priority for Lebanese officials.

Moawad said government officials should direct their efforts at improving the living conditions of the Lebanese people.

“We want to empower the Lebanese so that they remain resilient in their land rather than emigrate,” he said.

Moawad said the Rene Moawad Foundation– via the Building Alliance for Local Advancement, Development, and Investment (BALADI)–will have contributed to improving the lives of more than 160,000 Lebanese citizens across Lebanon by end 2017.

Moawad was speaking during the inauguration ceremony of the controlled atmosphere storage facility for apple farmers in Ehmej.

The project is part of the BALADI program, a five-year initiative undertaken by the Rene Moawad Foundation and funded by the the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Lebanon.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by former MP Fares Souaid, USAID representatives, government officials, head of Jbeil municipality Ziad Hawat and a number of local officials

Head of Ehmej municipality Nazih Semaan said the Baladi program provides support for local farmers, enabling them through the controlled atmosphere storage facility to better store, and sell their apple produce.

Baladi Program coordinator at the Interior Ministry Rasha Hourani highlighted the importance of the project, saying the storage facility will reduce production costs and increase the competitiveness of Lebanese products.