Prime Minister Nawaf Salam Discusses Efforts to Rebuild Trust Between State and Private Sector

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received a delegation from the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), which included prominent Lebanese company owners, CEOs, and Lebanese leaders holding positions in global and regional firms.

Representing the delegation, Mr. Wael Sano stated, "Hope remains alive when we see a prime minister sincerely prioritizing Lebanon. Perhaps today we are here to regain some of that hope, find an additional reason to trust the future, and affirm that we stand with you in every possible way. We all share the responsibility to contribute to the success of this phase. Despite all challenges, hope is the most valuable asset Lebanon needs today, and we believe in the partnership between the public and private sectors."

Prime Minister Salam responded by agreeing with their conclusion that no one can accomplish anything alone. He noted, "That is why we began working on clear projects for public-private partnerships. Updating the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) law took time until the necessary amendments were approved by the Parliament."

He added, "We also have a live example today in the President Rene Moawad Airport in Qlayaat, involving Sky Lounge and Mada Airways, and we expect the project to be completed soon, which will be an important achievement. Additionally, more than 25 entities have expressed interest in investing in the second phase of the President Rene Moawad Airport project in Qlayaat."

Salam further explained, "There are other projects that will be set on track. Years ago, Parliament approved a law to establish the Beirut-Beqaa tunnel under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme. The government decided to launch a feasibility study for this project and allocated the necessary funding. We hope the tender will begin early next year. This would allow the creation of a dry port in Beqaa, effectively expanding the Beirut port and linking it to the IMEC project route between India and Europe."

He emphasized, "We have sought to rebuild trust between the state, citizens, and the private sector. Results cannot be achieved overnight, but I believe we have set the right path and started working on it."

Regarding the banking sector, Prime Minister Salam said, "This crisis has lasted for more than six years. Within less than ten months, we proposed solutions through a draft law addressing the financial gap. Was the project perfect? Not necessarily, and we are open to improving it during parliamentary discussions. Unfortunately, war broke out before Parliament began debating the project. We hope Parliament will start its discussions soon, and the government will be present in parliamentary committees to contribute to the debate and introduce necessary improvements, while affirming that the final decision rests with Parliament."