An International Monetary Fund delegation wraps up Sunday a three-day visit to Lebanon during which it met with senior political and financial officials. “The delegation stressed that the starting point for the solutions should be reforms, topped by the electricity file,” media reports said. “The delegation also asked Lebanese officials ... Read More »
IMF extends visit to crisis-hit Lebanon: sources
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will continue meetings with Lebanese authorities on Monday, sources familiar with the process said, extending a visit to provide technical advice that was expected to end on Sunday. The IMF began meetings with Lebanese authorities on Feb. 20 to provide broad technical advice on how ... Read More »
Information and Public Health Ministers hold joint press conference on Coronavirus
Minister of Information, Manal Abdel Samad Najd, and Minister of Public Health, Hamad Hassan, held a work meeting and joint press conference at the Ministry of Information on Saturday afternoon, to shed light on the Coronavirus issue and the necessary and responsible awareness needed in this regard. Attending the meeting ... Read More »
France: We will be there if Lebanon needs financial aid
France is ready to support Lebanon financially, bilaterally or multilaterally, its finance minister said on Sunday according to a Reuters report, warning against mixing economic recovery in the small Mediterranean state with US-led efforts to counter Iran in the region. “France always stands ready to help Lebanon. It has always ... Read More »
Lebanon confirms first case of coronavirus
Lebanon confirmed its first coronavirus case on Friday, a 45-year-old woman who had arrived from Iran and was being quarantined in a Beirut hospital. Two other suspected cases were being followed and authorities were taking all necessary precautions in line with recommendations of the World Health Organization, Health Minister Hamad ... Read More »
Lebanon president: We will hold those who tampered with our economy accountable
Lebanese President Michel Aoun today said that measures would be taken to hold accountable all those who contributed to the country’s financial crisis through illegal actions by transferring money abroad or manipulating bonds in foreign currencies. “There is information that we are still in need of with regards to the ... Read More »
Diab, IFC Team Discuss Development of Transport Sector, Airport
A delegation from the World Bank’s private lending arm met Tuesday with Prime Minister Hassan Diab, as the debt-ridden country seeks assistance to rescue its moribund economy. The meeting tackled the possibility of “launching joint cooperation projects between the public and private sectors and the issue of developing the transportation ... Read More »
Fitch Ratings: Lebanon Finances Point to Debt Restructuring
Lebanon’s financial situation points to a likely restructuring of the country’s massive debt and financial sector to preserve declining foreign currency reserves, Fitch Ratings said Tuesday. The credit rating agency’s report comes as Lebanese officials are debating whether to pay back $1.2 billion worth of Eurobonds that mature on March ... Read More »
Lebanon to request ‘technical assistance’ from the IMF to resolve economic crisis
The Lebanese government will request “technical assistance” from the IMF to draw up a stabilisation plan to resolve the country’s financial and economic crisis, including plans to restructure public debt, a government source told Reuters today. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri previously suggested yesterday that a decision on whether to pay ... Read More »
Diab’s Government Wins Parliament Vote of Confidence
Lebanon’s new government won parliament’s vote of confidence on Tuesday, as 63 MPs voted in favor, 20 voted against and one MP abstained. The MPs of Hizbullah, the Free Patriotic Movement, the AMAL Movement and their allies granted confidence to Hassan Diab’s government as those of al-Mustaqbal Movement, the Progressive ... Read More »