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Lebanon

Lebanon news and analysis, tenders, contracts awarded, commentary and economic data

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Lebanon_map_527x286px Lebanon+flag President_Michel_Suleiman
Lebanon
Leader
President Michel Suleiman

Lebanon country datafile
Country overview
Government contacts

Country data

Iran 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012f 2013f
Nominal GDP ($bn) 25.1 30.1 34.7 37.1 39* 41.8 44.4
GDP per capita ($) 6,666 7,900 8,983 9,501 9,862 10,416 10,921
Real GDP growth (annual change, %) 7.5 9.3 8.5 7 1.5* 2 2.5
Government revenue (% of GDP) 24 23.7 24.5 22.9 23.5 23.9 23.9
Government total expenditure (% of GDP) 34.9 33.2 32.8 30.6 29.6 31.8 32.2
Total government debt (gross, % of GDP) 167.7 156.3 147.6 141.7 137.4 135.2 135.6
Current account balance (% of GDP) -6.8 -9.2 -9.8 -9.6 -14* -16.2 -15.6
Value of oil imports 2.6 3.9 3.1 3.9 4.8 5.8 6.2
Value of oil exports 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Inflation (%) 4.1 10.8 1.2 4.5 5 6.5 5.7
Click to see full economic data (2005 - 2017 forecast)
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database; Last updated: March 2013; *=Estimate

Lebanon trends

Beirut: Luxury sector affected by Syria conflict

Visitor slump hits high-end hotels in Lebanon Subscription

8 May 2013, 13:55 GMT | By James Gavin

Political uncertainty is deterring Gulf Arabs from visiting Lebanon, hurting high-end hoteliers and retailers, but refugees from Syria are mitigating the impact on the economy

Standing down: President Michel Suleiman, left, accepts Mikati’s resignation

Fears of renewed instability in Beirut Subscription

26 March 2013, 8:24 GMT | By James Gavin

Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s resignation throws the country into uncertainty at a crucial time when the unrest in Syria threatens domestic politics

Offshore: The initial focus of Lebanon's oil and gas exploration will be in the waters off its coast

Oil and gas: Beirut’s blessing or curse? Subscription

13 March 2013, 9:01 GMT | By

As its first offshore licensing round gets under way, Lebanon has high hopes of striking oil or gas in its waters, but any success could prove problematic

Sectarian divide

Sectarian violence in Lebanon Subscription

28 February 2013, 7:51 GMT | By Alex Potter

The civil war in Syria is giving fresh impetus to a long-running conflict between residents of two neighbouring districts in the Lebanese city of Tripoli

Middle East and North Africa inflation

Inflation risks social unrest Subscription

7 February 2013, 7:50 GMT | By Richard Nield

Oil exporters will increase subsidises to contain inflation, but other governments are likely to struggle

Lebanon fiscal balance

Beirut hopes to pass budget Subscription

2 August 2012, 5:19 GMT | By

Lebanon’s parliament aims to break a seven-year cycle and approve year’s spending plan

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MEED comment

Lebanon

Stability needed over stimulation

27 March 2013, 16:33 GMT

A crisis at home and on its borders may nullify Lebanon central bank’s laudable economic stimulus plan

RBS

Blind eye turned to US institutions Subscription

23 August 2012, 14:19 GMT

Money laundering accusations are highlighting the hypocrisy of the US authorities’ approach

Political turmoil weighs on banks Subscription

14 June 2012, 15:57 GMT

Unrest could hit fortunes of banks in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan, after escaping the economic crisis

Syrian crisis puts Lebanon on edge Subscription

Issue 22 1-7 June 2012

The revolution against Bashar al-Assad’s regime threatens to split Lebanon again along sectarian lines

More MEED commentary

Special reports

Lebanon

Lebanon Special Report: Violence returns to Lebanon Subscription

Issue 22 1-7 June 2012

Syrian uprising reopens sectarian rifts

More Lebanon special reports

Tenders & project awards

Lebanon: Power generation increase consultancy Subscription

27 April 2013, 13:20 GMT | By

Provision of consultancy services comprising the preparation of a feasibility study to increase the capacity of 1,500MW of power generation

Lebanon: Irrigation canal works and water network Subscription

20 April 2013, 21:27 GMT | By

Rehabilitation of irrigation canals and supply of a drinking water network

Lebanon: Medical supplies Subscription

28 March 2013, 8:07 GMT | By

Supply and installation of medical supplies and a mobile clinic

Lebanon: Dam and lake construction

22 March 2013, 20:09 GMT | By

Construction of a dam and lake

Lebanon: Water climate system remote sensing Subscription

22 March 2013, 9:09 GMT | By

Provision of remote sensing in climate and water systems

Lebanon: Crop yield estimation sensing techniques Subscription

22 March 2013, 9:07 GMT | By

Provision of remote sensing in crop mapping and yield estimation

Lebanon: Water and wastewater system O&M

15 March 2013, 20:27 GMT | By

Operation and maintenance (O&M) of water and wastewater systems

Lebanon: Cultural centres Subscription

14 March 2013, 9:21 GMT | By

Construction of two cultural centres

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Top 10 projects

Rank Project Name Sector Contract value ($m)
1 Beit Misk Construction 800
2 Deir al-Ammar Power Plant Expansion Power 500
2 Venus Towers Construction 500
4 Beirut Terraces Construction 460
5 Beirut Port Container Terminal Expansion Transport 450
6 Litani Water Project: Phase 1 Water 330
7 Old City Rehabilitation Construction 295
8 Upgrade of Beirut-Damascus Highway Transport 250
9 Waterfront City Construction 225
10 Pan Arab Highway Mdairej, Chtaura, Taanayel Transport 158
Click through to the full data table on Lebanon's biggest projects in construction
Click through to MEED's Q1 2013 Top 100 Projects report
Source: MEED Projects; Data compiled: April 2013; All projects in execution

Companies

Byblos Bank Subscription

Founded as Societe Commerciale et Agricole Byblos Bassil Freres & Company in Byblos, Lebanon, it was renamed in 1963

Holcim Liban Subscription

Established originally as the Societe des Ciments Libanais, the cement producer was one of Lenanon’s first modern industrial enterprises. It is owned by Switzerland’s Holderbank Group

Solidere company

Lebanese Company for Reconstruction & Development Subscription

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People

Toufic Gaspard Subscription

Issue 51 23-29 December 2011

Toufic Gaspard is economic adviser to the Finance Minister, Lebanon

Joseph Torbey Subscription

Issue 51 23-29 December 2011

Joseph Torbey is chairman, Association of Banks

Mohamed Choucair Subscription

Issue 51 23-29 December 2011

Mohamed Choucair is president, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture (FCCIAL)

Mazen Soueid Subscription

Issue 51 23-29 December 2011

Mazen Soueid is chief economist, BankMed

Nassib Ghobril Subscription

Issue 51 23-29 December 2011

Nassib Ghobril is head of economic research and analysis, Byblos Bank

Jihad Azour Subscription

Issue 51 23-29 December 2011

Jihad Azour is vice-president, senior executive adviser for Booz & Co

See all Lebanon biographies

Latest Lebanon news

Dana Gas revenues drop 20 per cent on Kurdistan outage Subscription

14 May 2013, 10:35 GMT | By

Gross revenue declined to AED557m from AED700m in the same period last year

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