Lebanon

Small country, large reach

Lebanon is a small country with a relatively rich and educated population, but has an international reach thanks to its worldwide diaspora. These 8 to 14 million well-educated emigrants and their descendants form in fact a natural trade network which is especially present in South and North America, the Arab world, Australia and Europe.

Lebanon has a strong service sector (especially financial), but tries to stimulate the growth of both labour intesive and high value sectors, like agriculture and clean technology, with the help of incentives. Also regional economic development is stimulated by improving the infrastructure. Lebanon also holds accession talks with the WTO with help of the EU.

Its multi-religious population and political system make the country unique in the region and contribute to the relative stability of the country despite the neighbouring Syrian civil war and large influx of refugees. Young Lebanese show more and more their disapproval of the slow political decision taking as result of this system.

More information about promising sectors in Lebanon and our business services can be found in our sector overview and services overview or read our posts about the country here.

Data Population (WB database '17), Economy (IMF database '17, WB database '17, XE.com '19, Ease of Doing Business '18, Global Competitiveness Report '18), Investment (World Investment Report '18), International (IMF database '17)

Photo: Paul Saad