George Boujikian, the caretaker minister of industry, announced on Wednesday that he and Raymond El Khoury, the general director of customs, had reached an agreement “to put up a framework to expedite the import and export of primary and raw commodities.”

Addressing a delegation representing the Syndicate of Food Industry owners, Boujikian stressed his solidarity with the public sector’s employees and the pressing need to grant them their full rights, without negatively affecting the activity of public utilities.

“We stress that we refuse to render public sector employees be the victim, just as it is not permissible for industrial sector employees to be the victim,” he added, wishing of those involved in the ongoing strike to allow public utilities to run smoothly “or else the consequences would affect all those involved alike.”

Boujikian finally stressed that Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, was exerting massive efforts to find a quick solution for public sector employees.