BEIRUT, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese exports lost 10 billion U.S. dollars in the past five years due to the Syrian war, said Caretaker Industry Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan.
Hassan was quoted by Elnashra news agency during an event held in Baalbeck on Saturday to discuss economic challenges facing Lebanon.
Lebanon's exports suffered heavily following the closure of the Nasib border.
On April 1, 2015, Jordan closed its border with Syria following heavy clashes between rebels and Syrian government forces near the Nasib crossing.
As the only functioning crossing between Jordan and Syria, Nasib is vital for the transport of goods from Lebanon and Syria to Jordan and Gulf states.
However, after a three-year closure, Syrian government forces on July 6 took control over the major crossing point on the Nasib border with Jordan.
Representatives of different economic sectors in Lebanon and Lebanese officials voiced their optimism regarding the reopening of Nasib border.
Caretaker Agriculture Minister Ghazi Zeaiter said the Lebanese economy will improve following the reopening of Nasib border.
"I am in contact with Syrian officials and I will be visiting Syria soon to discuss the need to take measures that would allow the Lebanese to export their products again through Nasib border," he said.
Meanwhile, Hajj Hassan emphasized the need by the government to adopt a strategy to enhance the performance of different economic sectors such as agriculture and industry in Lebanon.
