Signing a loan of $ 250 million to return to reconstruction .. Jaber: A founding amount we hope it will reach a billion

Finance Minister Yassin Jaber signed with the regional director of the World Bank Jean -Christophe Carre, a loan from the bank at a value of $ 250 million, allocated to the reconstruction of infrastructure in the areas affected by the Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
Jaber said: “Today is a happy and important occasion for Lebanon, as we sign a loan we attended for months, which is the first loan for reconstruction, and I hope in the future that the subsequent money is not loans but grants and aid. But today we can say that we started the first steps towards reconstruction. It is a basic amount, but I also took other steps for the treasury contribution to the reconstruction and for other assistance that comes from sister and friendly countries like Iraq who provided $ 20 million as a start. ”
He explained: “The loan we sign today is a foundation amount to create a fund for the reconstruction of infrastructure in the affected areas. We hope that it will reach one billion dollars.”
He pointed out that “France will contribute to / 75 million euros, and we hope that these contributions will increase later, from friends and siblings.” He said: “This loan is dedicated to infrastructure, such as roads, electricity, water, schools, hospitals, and all kinds of sectors that have been affected in different regions during the recent war.”
Jaber thanked the “World Bank” as well as the cabinet for its speed, and said that “within days he will send to the Parliament to approve permanently.” He pointed out that “the implementation work for the construction and rehabilitation of these structures will be from the mission of the Council for Development and Reconstruction, whether funded by this loan or from all the money that will come to finance the fund, as it will be under the supervision of the World Bank and the government.”
Then the World Bank Regional Director Jean-Christophe Carre spoke and said: “I am pleased to join you today to sign the Leap-EAP- a pillar of the Lebanese government’s strategy for recovery and reconstruction.” He added: “The Leap project is not just a project, it is a national framework designed to restore vital services and build a public infrastructure that is rapidly affected, and establish the basis for sustainable reconstruction The comprehensive and able to withstand climate change. His Excellency Minister Jaber indicated, and given the great reconstruction needs in Lebanon, in the wake of the conflict, the Leap program was designed as a framework for development with a value of $ 1 billion, and with a preliminary contribution of $ 250 million from the World Bank. The government is led by transparency, accountability and results. For societies. ”
He said: “Leap will be implemented by the Council of Development and Reconstruction under the strategic direction of the Prime Minister’s Office, in coordination with various ministries at the level of the Council of Ministers.
Carier went on: “Leap adopts a scientific and transparent methodology approved by the Council of Ministers to determine the priorities. This guarantees the allocation of investments to the largest social and economic impact, which increases the benefits of early recovery and allows the process of comprehensive reconstruction in stages. During the preparation of the project, the Lebanese government has taken decisive reform measures to ensure the readiness to start implementing the project with efficiency and speed immediately Its approval by the House of Representatives. These measures include the appointment of a full board of directors for the Council of Development and Reconstruction and the adoption of simplified administrative procedures in the mechanisms of decision -making for the project, in line with the best international practices used in the implementation of emergency projects. Efficiently, based on the principles of transparency, competence and accountability.