Lebanon Participates in IMF and World Bank Meetings in Bangkok

Lebanon officially participates in the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, which launched today in the Thai capital, Bangkok. The delegation is headed by Minister of Finance Yassine Jaber, with the participation of Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Bsat, alongside Governor of Banque du Liban Karim Saeed and Presidential Advisor Rawaa Al-Harati.

The Ministry of Finance delegation includes Director General of Finance George Maawad, and advisors Zeina Kassem and Claudine Korki. Their meeting program extends until Friday, October 16, focusing on discussing Lebanon's financial and economic priorities, the reform path, and opportunities for technical and financial support with international institutions and partners.

The highlights of the program include meetings of the Group of Twenty-Four (G-24), meetings with officials from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the International Finance Corporation, as well as meetings on financial reforms, technical assistance, and investment and financing opportunities. The delegation also participates in the Development Committee and the plenary session of the Annual Meetings, and in the Arab Governors' meeting with the President of the World Bank Group, where Minister Jaber delivers a speech, along with meetings addressing development cooperation, human capital, and skills financing in the age of artificial intelligence.

On the first day, Jaber began his meetings with a session with Executive Director at the World Bank Group Abdulaziz Al-Mulla, who represents Lebanon within the Arab States constituency on the Board of Executive Directors. This was attended by Minister Bsat, Maawad, Presidential Economic Advisor Rawaa Al-Harati, and Finance Minister's advisors Zeina Kassem and Claudine Korki, along with Al-Mulla's advisor Wafa Sharafeddin.

The meeting addressed the path of financial and banking reforms, particularly legal frameworks for resolving bank situations and restoring financial order, following up on the roadmap with the International Monetary Fund, and enhancing coordination with the World Bank.

Projects for regional integration and connectivity took a central part of the discussion, especially in electricity, gas, solar energy, power exchange, railways, and transport. Emphasis was placed on the importance of involving Syria, Iraq, and Jordan in a shared vision that supports economic recovery opportunities in Lebanon over the next three years.

Participants also discussed the preparation of a comprehensive master plan, including a specific chapter on productive sectors, upon which a financing program will be built to attract donors and meet investment needs in the energy, water, and infrastructure sectors during the coming decade, through partnerships between governments and the private sector.

It was agreed to intensify follow-up through periodic technical meetings to translate these orientations into an actionable plan, with defined priorities, financing mechanisms, and monitoring, thereby converting investment opportunities into projects that stimulate the economy and create new job opportunities.