The Regie’s chairman and general manager, Eng. Nassif Seklaoui, said during the annual media gathering marking the institution’s 90th anniversary on Thursday that treasury revenues from the Regie’s profits are expected to reach $500 million in 2025.
After a minute of silence “in honor of the journalists who were killed during the recent war on Lebanon” and who “sacrificed their lives for the truth,” becoming “martyrs of the word, of justice,” Seklaoui welcomed those he described as “the Regie’s partners in raising awareness and shaping public opinion.”
Following a tour of the Hadat factory and the screening of an introductory video about the Regie, Seklaoui addressed the journalists, saying: “We meet today on an occasion that is far from ordinary.
We are here to celebrate the Regie’s 90th anniversary and your contribution to highlighting its national and productive role.”
“Who said that state institutions can’t be successful? Everyone seems to think that public facilities in Lebanon are dilapidated, failing and corrupt.
I hope that today you have seen for yourselves that when a public institution is managed with vision and responsibility, it can be modern, productive and dynamic,” he added.
Reaffirming that “the Regie is, and will remain, the best proof of that,” he mentioned that the institution is “a key contributor to the state treasury, as revenues from its profits are expected to reach $500 million in 2025, and an economic support for more than 25,000 farmers, in times of peace like in times of war.”
Seklaoui also described the Regie as “a long-standing model of social responsibility,” noting that “this is reflected in its commitment to sustaining tobacco cultivation despite the commercial losses” and emphasizing that “on a national level, it remains a profitable endeavor that enables thousands of families to remain steadfast on their land.”
He highlighted that the Regie is “a trusted partner to the private sector, collaborating with more than 700 Lebanese suppliers who help drive the national economy.”
He then stressed that the Regie stands for “excellence in quality and performance, being the first public institution in Lebanon to obtain ISO certifications for quality management and for occupational health and safety,” adding that “it is likewise committed to governance and transparency, through continuous internal and external auditing.”
Seklaoui said that the Regie also “maintains world-class manufacturing standards through the adoption of the latest production lines and modern technologies, and has earned international trust, which is reflected in partnerships with leading global companies.”
He went on to say that the Regie “represents an investment in people, achieved through continuous scientific and professional development, and plays a pioneering role in sustainable development — from protecting the environment to combating child labor and supporting municipalities.”
He recalled that the Regie remains “determined to counter smuggling, with a small team undertaking a major national mission.”
“What we have achieved is not a coincidence; it is the fruit of a long process that has spanned decades of effort and determination. All this was made possible thanks to a team that believed in the institution before believing in their positions, and that placed national belonging above any other affiliation.
Success, after all, is not measured by numbers alone, but by the team spirit that places public interest above all else,” said Seklaoui.
“After ninety years of growth and development, the Regie was recognized by President Joseph Aoun for its national and economic role during his recent visit.
While we take pride in the trust of the official authorities, we also take pride in the trust of the Fourth Estate, which has accompanied our journey and conveyed our success stories with objectivity and responsibility,” he added.
“The Regie is a story of commitment, responsibility, and belonging, one that believes the nation is not built on slogans, but on institutions that work in silence and achieve with confidence.”
To conclude, Seklaoui addressed the journalists, saying: “You are our partners in our mission to restore trust in state institutions and shed light on success stories, while moving away from the language of doubt and the distortion of the state’s image and that of its institutions. Responsible media is one of the pillars of national recovery. We count on your pens to reflect the image Lebanon truly deserves: a country with institutions that work, produce and believe that willpower makes the difference.”