INDEVCO Group History - 1970s - Defying the Difficult Years of Civil War in Lebanon

Defying the Difficult Years

In 1972, Georges Frem launched Industrial Development Company (INDEVCO sarl), the industrial development and management company that would guide and service the growth of companies to come.

Likewise, continuing to respond to Lebanons market needs, Frem founded Sanita in response to the country's emerging consumerism and lack of refuse disposal systems. Sanita's initial product lines focused on disposable household tissue products and plastic trash bags for more effective waste removal.

April 1975 marked a radical downturn in the fortunes of Lebanon, when the start of civil conflict devastated the population and business community. Throughout the rest of this decade, INDEVCO took proactive measures to continue operating its companies in Lebanon.

INDEVCO was the country's first company to import powerful private electricity generators for stable power supply to the group's factories during shortages resulting from the war.

The company also funded and built a concrete pier in Jounieh harbour, which is still in use today, to facilitate import of raw materials and export of finished products from its plants. By ship, products from INDEVCO plants were once again able to reach their most important markets.

At the end of this strenuous decade, INDEVCO established GESPA Overseas Ltd., an international liaison office in Cyprus charged with managing procurement and shipping.