A delegation from the Lebanese Business Association (LBE), led by its President Bassem al-Bawab, visited the acting Governor of the Central Bank, Wassim Mansouri.
During the meeting, Mansouri presented Lebanon’s monetary, financial, and economic situation, the Central Bank’s next steps, the requirements for the banking sector’s development, and the search for an equitable solution to restitute deposits.
For his part, Bawab presented the meeting’s objectives: protecting the national economy and the Lebanese private sector by providing a business-friendly environment, protecting private institutions from unfair decisions and procedures, and increasing the capabilities and competitiveness of Lebanese companies by enabling them to benefit from advanced technology and artificial intelligence in their operations.
Mansouri hailed “the important role played by the Lebanese private sector in halting the collapse and reviving the economy, as well as enabling the recovery of the public sector.”
He stressed that “the state’s finances are in order, which will enable us to establish a budget for 2025 on solid grounds,” believing that this procedure “could be the start of an economic recovery.”
He pointed out that there is coordination and cooperation between the monetary and financial authorities, “and this is what makes it possible to build the economy and achieve growth.”
He also insisted on four points to get the country back on the road to recovery and progress, namely:
1- Activating accountability through the judicial system alone.
2- Finding a fair solution for depositors.
3- Reforming, restructuring, and activating the banking sector.
4- Carrying out structural reforms, and restructuring and modernizing the public sector.
Mansouri also spoke about the atmosphere of his visit to the United States and his efforts to keep Lebanon off the FATF grey list. He also discussed the progress and expansion in the application of Circulars 166 and 158.
