IMF Mission Discusses Lebanon's Five-Year Medium-Term Financial Framework
Beirut - 17 - 9 (KUNA) -- An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission discussed, during meetings held in Beirut on Thursday, the completion of work on a five-year medium-term financial framework and the coordination of fiscal and sectoral priorities.
The Lebanese Ministry of Finance stated in a statement that the IMF mission continued its meetings at the ministry for the third consecutive day, with the participation of relevant directors, officials, advisors, and experts.
The ministry noted that a meeting was dedicated to discussing infrastructure and energy, involving the Council for Development and Reconstruction, the Ministry of Public Works, and the Electricity Regulatory Authority. During this meeting, the "project portfolio" was discussed, existing projects were reviewed, and those that were canceled or could not be implemented due to insufficient appropriations or lack of economic feasibility were examined. Additionally, reconstruction projects, their studies, and coordination mechanisms to determine priorities and secure financing were addressed.
It was mentioned that the Electricity Regulatory Authority presented its new organizational structure and strategic plans, most notably the "project to transition from liquid fuels to gas, currently supported by a feasibility study."
The ministry added that a second meeting was dedicated to discussing social spending, with the participation of the Budget, Treasury, and Public Debt Directorates within the Ministry of Finance, the Financial and Economic Institute of the Ministry of Finance (Bassel Fleihan Institute), and the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The technical meetings of the IMF mission at the Ministry of Finance with the relevant administrations and entities will continue until tomorrow, Friday. The meetings are expected to conclude with a meeting at the Ministry of Finance bringing together the Ministers of Finance and Economy, representatives of the Presidency of the Republic and the Government, the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, the head of the IMF mission, Ernesto Rigo, and members of the Lebanese and international negotiating teams.
These meetings come within the framework of following up on cooperation between Lebanon and the IMF, completing discussions on reform, financial, and economic files, and building on the progress achieved in the reform path, including the banking sector reform and continuing work on key files related to financial stability and restoring confidence in the Lebanese economy. (End) A.Y.B. / M.A.A.
