October 23, 2026
In light of the continuing monetary and banking challenges facing the Lebanese economy, the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, met with the Governor of the Bank of Lebanon, Karim Saied, to discuss the latest financial and monetary developments in the country, and to review the results of the contacts that the Governor made with international financial institutions and officials in central banks, as well as preparing for a new international station in France.
The Governor of the Bank of Lebanon presented to President Aoun a detailed report on the results of his recent meetings in Bangkok on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund. His consultations included high-level officials in the International Monetary Fund, the Arab Monetary Fund, and the US Federal Reserve, in addition to a number of Arab central bank governors. He also presented the measures taken by the Central Bank to maintain monetary stability amid the current challenges.
In the external diplomatic and financial context, Saeed informed the President of the Republic about the atmosphere of his upcoming visit to France, where he will hold consultations with senior officials in the French financial authorities, and participate in high-level discussions related to the Group of Seven countries (G7). These discussions are scheduled to focus on issues related to combating money laundering and the financing of armed groups, as part of Lebanon’s efforts to strengthen supervisory and financial standards with international bodies.
For his part, President Joseph Aoun stressed during the meeting the importance of maintaining monetary stability, moving forward with reform of the banking sector, and protecting the rights of depositors, as they are essential pillars for restoring confidence in the Lebanese financial sector.
This meeting comes at a time when Lebanon is seeking to advance the path of financial and banking reforms, in parallel with continued communication with the International Monetary Fund and international financial institutions, in response to urgent internal demands to restructure the banking sector, address the repercussions of the financial crisis, and protect the remaining rights of depositors.
