What does a major actor in construction think about the Lebanese capital and the architecture of its most recent areas? The General Manager of ArcelorMittal group, Mr. Pierre Bourrier, came to Beirut to animate a conference of the "Ecole supérieure des affaires" (ESA) about the big French schools in the XXIst century on June 6. On this occasion, iloubnan.info asked him to express his opinion vis-à-vis the city of Beirut, the tours on the seaside, the dynamism of this city, and its potential….And, of course, vis-à-vis the efficiency of the Lebanese.

iloubnan.info: Your career is strongly marked by the BTP (public works and construction). When you look at Beirut, what do you think of it, in terms of architecture and construction?
Pierre Bourrier: As an actor in construction, I am surprised to see that in many big Middle Eastern cities, including Beirut - according to what I could see from it until now, an American-style urbanization mode has been adopted, along with high towers near the Downtown, divided into business areas, and around it, the “suburbs”. This often requires that the people come all the way from their homes to the center to work. This results in problems that have to do with the energy control, especially in countries where common transportation means are not yet so developed. Of course, if this confuses me in terms of citizens, it delights me in terms of industry, because the moment the building includes more than fifteen floors, we should call on the big industrial groups.

High towers are still seen in the big Gulf cities…how can you compare between those cities and the city of Beirut?
The big Gulf cities (Dubai, Abu Dhabi…) have a great potential because they are so active, and that’s what makes them particularly attractive. And now, they invest in the tourism field, with attraction means that are unique and exclusive, and sometimes unusual like the skiing area in Dubai (for which Arcelor has given 3000 tones of steel). Those cities also hold a particular cultural strength (Le Louvre museum antenna was opened in Abu Dhabi for example). In fact, culture is a field in which Beirut should be absolutely brilliant, with its history and past. And Beirut can also represent an economic and financial center that has to do with the Mediterranean Union. It makes no sense to try to clone the Gulf, which is rather inspired by India. For instance, I have never seen a Mediterranean city that could be compared to Beirut. The specificity of this city is, besides the Lebanese love of business, the Lebanese efficiency. If you find Lebanese people everywhere in the world, then it is the result of their efficiency. I was in Florida for a while for example, and I noticed that the Lebanese presence there is visible and efficient.

In your opinion, what are the assets that Beirut has to improve?
It should work on its bipolarity: for it is a cultural tradition capable of boosting tourism and matched with a strong financial attraction ability. Beirut is caught in the middle of those two poles: Europe and the Gulf. Therefore, Beirut is not only an attraction pole for capitals: for Europe, this city can also be an entrance door to the Gulf…and vice versa.