October 13, 2026
Lebanon is intensifying its financial moves in Bangkok on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, aiming to mobilize international support for recovery and reconstruction, and open new financing channels to the private sector, in addition to advancing partnership projects in vital sectors, most notably energy and the airport, in light of a negotiating path aimed at reaching a program supported by the International Monetary Fund and projects in preparation estimated at about one billion dollars.
In this context, the Lebanese delegation, headed by Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, continued its meetings with officials of the two international institutions. Where Jaber met with the Director General of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, who praised the seriousness she perceived with the Lebanese government, recalling her positive meeting in Washington with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Jaber. The Minister of Finance also participated in the G24 meeting in the presence of Georgieva and Managing Director of the World Bank, Paschal Donohoe.
During the meetings, Jaber presented the scale of the humanitarian, social and economic challenges, noting that the ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon has led to widespread displacement and caused damage to infrastructure worth billions of dollars, in addition to disrupting economic activity and expanding the circle of pressures to include middle-income people and the most vulnerable groups. Jaber called on the IMF and the World Bank to continue to help mobilize humanitarian and emergency financing and reconstruction funds, praising the World Bank’s support and reviewing the government’s plan to support the dignified and sustainable return of displaced Syrians in coordination with the Syrian government and the international community.
In a parallel track, Jaber and the Minister of Economy and Trade, Amer Al-Bassat, held discussions with a delegation from the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank Group, which dealt with expanding the financing available to the Lebanese private sector and developing partnership projects between the public and private sectors in the energy and airport sectors.
The Foundation delegation explained that the value of the projects under preparation amounts to about one billion dollars, including approximately 900 million dollars for partnership projects. The two sides discussed the power station project towards the pre-qualification stage, pending securing guarantees related to the reforms in the Electricité du Liban and negotiations with the IMF, in addition to the airport project, which is subject to studies and audits, with its results being submitted to the Council of Ministers soon. The discussions also included investment opportunities in industry, agriculture, building materials, and logistics services, and two initiatives to finance the private sector, including meetings between the International Finance Corporation and Lebanese companies and the establishment of a special credit tool for small and medium enterprises, with a virtual working session being held next week to discuss its structure.
The discussions also addressed the role of non-banking financial institutions and financial technology in providing alternative sources of financing while awaiting treatment of the banking sector crisis, with an emphasis on continuing follow-up during the next stage amid upcoming visits to Lebanon.
