Neemat Frem

Neemat Frem was born on 10 September 1967 in Jounieh, Keserwan of Lebanon. He is the son of INDEVCO Group founder Georges Frem, a Lebanese politician who served as a minister in various cabinets over three periods, between 1982 and 2003.{{Cite web |last=Badran |first=Faysal |date=2006-06-01 |title=Georges Frem |url=https://www.executive-magazine.com/opinion/comment/georges-frem |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Executive Magazine |language=en-US}}{{cite web |date=July 2012 |title=Building a quake-proof business |url=http://www.indevcogroup.com/mailer-3/NF-2012-07-26-OUTBOUND-Entrepreneur-Levant-Interview-English.pdf |access-date=3 June 2019 |website=Entrepreneur Levant}}

He completed school at Collège Saint Joseph – Antoura, and graduated from the American University of Beirut with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1991. He then completed a postgraduate diploma on leadership and business from Harvard University Business School, Georgetown University Business School and Stanford University Business School.{{Cite news |date=2011-08-03 |title=Q&A – Neemat Frem |url=http://www.executive-magazine.com/economics-policy/qa-neemat-frem |access-date=2018-01-17 |work=Executive Magazine |language=en-US}}

In July 2018, Frem received a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik.

Frem began his career in the business sector.

After graduating from the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 1991, Frem became Design and Project coordinator at INDEVCO Group, his family firm which is an international group of companies manufacturing corrugated, plastic and paper packaging, tissue, as well as household, institutional, and personal care disposables.{{Cite web |title=INDEVCO North America – Protective Material Solutions |url=https://indevconorthamerica.com/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=indevconorthamerica.com |language=en-US}} In 1994, he was appointed the General Manager of Unipak Tissue Mill. Currently he is the company's Chief Executive.

In 1998, he founded and managed Phoenix Machinery, with a view to bridging the distance between the traditional activities of INDEVCO and the technology industry. The company is a provider of renewable energy and waste management services, as well as engineering products to the Middle East and North Africa. In response to the increasing demand during COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon in 2020, the company started manufacturing ICU ventilators conforming to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, CE certificate: medical devices directive 93/42/EEC (21449), LIBNOR, FDA certificate in collaboration with AUH.{{Cite web |date=2016-10-18 |title=Phoenix Machinery S.A.L |url=http://www.ali.org.lb/members/phoenix-machinery-sal |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=Association of Lebanese Industrialists |language=en}} Frem is currently president of Phoenix Machinery and also the president of Phoenix Group.

During the economic crisis in Lebanon, intensified by the fuel shortage, Phoenix EV also provided the Lebanese with a fleet of electric cars.{{Cite web |title=IPT and Phoenix Energy launch e-car charging network |url=https://www.businessnews.com.lb/cms/Story/StoryDetails/11212/IPT-and-Phoenix-Energy-launch-e-car-charging-network |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=BusinessNews.com.lb |language=en-US}} In 2000, Frem was appointed Managing Director for all INDEVCO Lebanon Operations until 2005 when he then became the Chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of INDEVCO Group. Neemat Frem also served as the CEO of Interstate Resources, Inc. (IRI) in the US.

Neemat Frem served as the President of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) from 2010 to 2014.{{Cite web |title=LARP III - Mr. Neemat G. Frem |url=https://www.larpmission.org/larpiii/remarks-nehmat-frem.htm |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=www.larpmission.org}} In 2017, he financed the launch of the Olive Grove, a new cluster of tech startups in Hamra, Beirut.{{cite web |author=Derek Issacs |date=15 June 2017 |title=Start-up cluster to launch in Hamra |url=http://www.businessnews.com.lb/cms/Story/StoryDetails/6099/Start-up-cluster-to-launch-in-Hamra |access-date=3 June 2019 |website=Businessnews.com.lb}}File:Frem at research and strategic studies center 3.jpg

Neemat Frem is the founder and Board Member of several associations promoting inter-religious (Christian-Islamic) dialogue. In 2013, he launched “Better Lebanon" initiative, a national, holistic, and visionary approach to propelling Lebanon’s economic, social and governance reforms. In 2019, the initiative was institutionalized as an NGO, which coordinates with other organizations and the Diaspora to provide sustainable development, humanitarian aid and social support.

Between 2016 and 2018 he served as presided over the Maronite Foundation in the World.{{Cite web |title=H.E. Neemat Frem hand over |url=https://maronitefoundation.org/MaroniteFoundation/en/News/34 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240530073131/https://maronitefoundation.org/MaroniteFoundation/en/News/34 |archive-date=2024-05-30 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=maronitefoundation.org |language=en}} In 2018, Frem announced his candidacy for the 2018 Lebanese General Election, running for the Maronite seat in the Keserwan and Byblos constituency. His campaign driver was “People First”. Following the general election held on 6 May 2018, he was officially announced as a winning candidate.

Frem served as the Chair of the Commission of the National Economy, Trade, Industry and Planning. He called for the restructuring of the Lebanese public administration to boost national productivity. He was the first deputy to inquire about the Lebanese administration’s recruitments figures.{{Cite web |title=Lebanon: Aoun Signs Controversial Naturalization Decree |url=https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/1286881/lebanon-aoun-signs-controversial-naturalization-decree |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=Asharq AL-awsat |language=en}} Frem presented a bill to the parliament to cancel old municipal payables under Sukleen and help face one of the biggest forms of endemic corruption in the country.

In late February 2020, Better Lebanon founded by Frem, prepared a master plan to help equip Lebanon to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. They partnered with INDEVCO and Phoenix Machinery to manufacture state-of-the-art ventilators and cost-efficient personal protective equipment meeting international standards. In October 2020, as the Chair of the Commission of the National Economy, Trade, Industry and Planning Frem elaborated a 5-year plan to achieve a zero budget deficit to rescue Lebanon from the economic crisis and presented it to all concerned officials as a proposed framework for future government budgets and a major guideline for ministries, public institutions and administrations. Despite all the warnings of the commission, the public administration ignored all the corrective actions presented in this plan. Shortly after the Beirut explosion, on 9 August 2020, he announced his resignation from the parliament in protest against the corruption and the unproductivity of the Lebanese political system that led to the financial collapse and the destruction of Beirut.{{Cite web |title=الوكالة الوطنية للإعلام - "Change is coming," vows Frem |url=https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9/512564 |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=ui.webname |language=en}}

In July 2021, determined to face the total collapse of the Lebanese State and alleviate the dire economic situation wrecking the Lebanese’s daily lives, Frem – together with a group of other political figures – launched “Project Watan”, a national political movement.{{Cite web |title=Frem launches Project Watan: A political movement for freedom, mission & sovereignty |url=https://www.mtv.com.lb/en/news/articles/1194296/frem-launches-project-watan-a-political-movement-for-freedom,-mission--sovereignty |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=MTV Lebanon |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Lebanon's March 2022 Parliamentary Elections: A Chance for Change? |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/lebanon-s-march-2022-parliamentary-elections-a-chance-for-change-/6352258.html |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=VOA |date=18 December 2021 |language=en}} According to the founders, “Project Watan” strives to shape a new creative identity for Lebanon through large-scale reforms and serious plans for political, social, cultural and economic development. Currently he is still president of the executive board.{{Cite web|url=http://www.clfw.org/about-us-bios.html|title=About CLFW- Bios|website=www.clfw.org|access-date=2018-01-17}}

In 2022, Frem announced his candidacy for the 2022 Lebanese General Election, running for the Maronite seat in the Keserwan and Byblos constituency. His campaign driver was “Vote for Happiness”. Following the general election held on 15 May 2022, he was officially announced as a winning candidate.{{Cite web |title=Lebanon's opposition MPs now need to prove their victory not only symbolic |url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/lebanon-opposition-candidates-prove-victory-not-symbolic |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}} In December 2024 he officially announced his candidacy for the Lebanese presidency.{{Cite web |title=Lebanons MP Neemat Frem declares candidacy for Lebanese presidency highlighting his strategy and National Vision|url=https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/lebanon-news/823794/lebanons-mp-neemat-frem-declares-candidacy-for-lebanese-presidency/en |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=LBCIV7 |language=en}}

• Member of Immigrants and Foreign Affairs Committee.
• Founder and Board Member of a number of associations promoting inter-religious (Christian – Islamic) dialogue and civic society.
• Founder and president of Phellipolis, the association that organizes the Jounieh International Festival{{cite web|url=https://www.ticketingboxoffice.com/News/Details/646/jounieh-festival-shows-to-go-on-despite-political|title=Jounieh Festival shows to go on despite political tensions|website=Ticketingboxoffice.com|date=25 April 2014|access-date=3 June 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.facelookmag.com/2015/07/une-inauguration-a-couper-le-souffle-pour-le-festival-international-de-jounieh-2015/|title=Une inauguration 'a couper le souffle pour le festival international de Jounieh 2015|website=Facelookmag.com|date=2015|language=fr|access-date=3 June 2019}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official|https://www.neematfrem.com}}
• [https://projectwatan.com/about-en.php Project Watan]

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Category:Lebanese businesspeople

Category:Living people

Category:1967 births

Category:Lebanese Maronites

Category:Members of the Parliament of Lebanon

Category:People from Jounieh

Category:Independent politicians in Lebanon