Lebanese Finance Minister Yassine Jaber met with Fanny La Porte, Deputy Director of Economic Relations at the French Ministry of Finance, in a work visit aimed at enhancing financial and technical cooperation between Lebanon and France, focusing on shared reform and economic interests.
The French delegation included Regional Economic Section Head François Sporre and Economic and Financial Attaché Kenza Ouzani. From the Lebanese side, General Director of Finance Georges Maarawi attended, along with advisors Zeina Kassem and Claudine Karki.
The meeting discussed financial and economic reforms, notably the banking sector restructuring bill and progress in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Jaber affirmed that the government is committed to implementing required reforms to regain trust in the Lebanese economy and revitalize economic activity, emphasizing the need to overcome political and technical obstacles still hindering key issues.
He noted that addressing the banking sector is a national priority due to its direct impact on economic and investment activities, asserting that restoring normal banking functions is a crucial step in the path to economic and financial recovery.
The discussion also covered strategies to transform Lebanon into a regional trade hub, leveraging its geographic position as a logistical gateway linking the Eastern Mediterranean to the Arab world. Projects involving connections with neighboring countries through railways and pipelines were presented, along with plans to develop border crossings and logistical infrastructure to facilitate trade, reduce transport costs, shorten shipping times, and enhance the competitiveness of the Lebanese economy.
The efforts to modernize public administration and enhance transparency were also discussed. They reviewed progress in activating the scanning systems at the Port of Beirut, ensuring all trucks undergo scanning and inspection. The development of a modern data center, supported by Lebanon Finance Facility (LFF), as part of the digital transformation plan and public administration technology framework, was also addressed.
Both sides discussed the challenges of attracting and retaining specialized human resources amidst the current economic conditions, and ways to boost administrative and technical capacities of public institutions to meet reform and modernization demands.
Jaber and the French delegation emphasized that the success of economic and financial reforms and the execution of major strategic projects require a stable and secure environment, asserting that security stability is essential for regaining investor confidence and attracting domestic and foreign investments. Both parties considered stability as indispensable for the success of infrastructure projects, regional connectivity, and digital transformation, opening new growth opportunities and job creation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the importance of continuing cooperation between Lebanon and France in financial, economic, and technical fields was emphasized, supporting reform efforts and enhancing prospects for economic recovery and growth in the forthcoming phase.