BEIRUT, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- A leading Lebanese industrialist Monday called on the government to provide more incentives for domestic companies to compete with their foreign counterparts, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

The remarks were made by Fadi Gemayel, head of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists during his meeting with industrialists in the clothing business over problems facing the sector.

"The import of products from countries, which support their industries with tax exemptions, industrial zones, reduced costs of production and subsidized shipping rates, is weighing heavily on the local production sector," Gemayel warned.

The Lebanese government should provide similar incentives and facilities to local industries, he suggested.

"We should also prevent the smuggling of products," he added.

In the first half of 2017, the Lebanese government announced its intention to apply new fees on certain imported goods to protect the Lebanese industry and combat the dumping of cheap goods.