(English) GLI Chairman Mr. Jacques Sarraf met with the Board Members of the Lebanese Franchise Association which has played a major role in supporting the franchise sector in Lebanon, on September 11, 2019 at LFA head office.

The meeting provided a chance for the board members to learn about GLI, its objectives, and the role it aims to play in supporting the Lebanese economy through involving the private sector in various public projects in Lebanon, especially with the Private Public Partnership Decree approved.

They also discussed the effect of the development of the companies in new technologies on the franchise sector, and the possible ways to attract foreign capital especially from the Lebanese in the diaspora, which provides the only hope for a better economic situation today.

Mr. Yehya Kassaa, LFA Chairman, agreed that the Lebanese businessmen are known worldwide for their success and they are considered Lebanon’s biggest assets, and hoped that GLI will succeed in bringing them together.

(English) GLI Chairman Mr. Jacques Sarraf took part in the second session of the LDE conference on the 7^th of June, 2019, titled “Reconstruction & Modernization of the Mashreq”; the conference hosted around 2,000 participants from the Lebanese Diaspora and was a great opportunity to connect and introduce them to GLI’s objectives.

During the intervention, Mr. Sarraf invited the Lebanese investors from all around the world to build the strongest network of human capital through being part of GLI’s international Chapters.

He also introduced the various available investment opportunities in Lebanon, inviting Lebanese investors to take part in them, and to renew their belief in their country Lebanon, and to give it a chance to finally give back.

A Q&A session followed where participants had the chance to enquire about the investment environment present today and the overall economy prospects.

(English) GLI Board members visited H.E. Mr. Gebran Bassil, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon, on Wednesday the 29^th of May, in order to discuss the possible cooperation opportunities of bringing together the Lebanese Investors from all around the world.

The visit was meant to take place before the LDE Conference organized by the Ministry and scheduled to take place from the 7^th till the 9^th of June, 2019.

During the meeting, possible ways of connecting with Lebanese Investors from the diaspora were discussed, in order to introduce them to GLI and to present them with the various investment opportunities in Lebanon today.

His Excellency Minister Bassil showed his support to any initiative in this regard, and offered the LDE as a platform for GLI to announce its goals and to connect with the Lebanese Investors worldwide. He also suggested that GLI cooperates with the various NGOs he has created for the same purpose.

Finally, it was decided that a coordination unit is to be created between the Ministry and GLI to allow for continuously successful cooperation.

(English) GLI Chairman, Mr. Jacques Sarraf, spoke during the opening ceremony of the “Arab Economic Forum” that took place in Beirut on the 2^nd of May, introducing GLI and its initiatives in order to present the experience of the Lebanese Investors locally and abroad for the fellow Arab investors and to invite them to take part in the possible opportunities for joint cooperation.

The various investment opportunities in the near horizon where discussed especially in lights of Cedre results and the PPP decree; and Chairman Sarraf noted that there is a lot to be done by the Arab countries who are still far from occupying a prominent place on the list of top ranked countries that attract investment, other than Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

In looking at the factors that got them there, it seems evident that an appropriate investment climate requiring an integrated and interdependent set of conditions must be met, first of which is stability.

The forum was a good occasion to raise the concerns and needs of investors to achieve the needed factors for a healthy investment climate, whereby Arab investors were urged to appeal to decision-makers to draft a new phase of stability in Arab countries starting in 2020.

Chairman Sarraf also noted that Lebanon seems to be already on this path despite the turbulent environment surrounding it and affecting its economy; as it has launched a large workshop to strengthen its political and legislative stability, and this is where GLI will have an important role to play with its members being investors with a long history of success.

GLI will represent a new much needed framework and will act as a Lebanese partner for investment promotion institutions and bodies in the Arab World, as it has already started with the UAE through signing an MoU with its counterpart there.

It will allow for real partnerships with the public sector away from  the burden of bureaucracy and most importantly it will bring together the Lebanese investors around the world to finance the national economy and enlarge its size without increasing the debt and burdens of interest that are putting pressure on our economy.

Finally he ended by saying that partnership means working together, taking responsibility together, and winning together. The GLI partnership represents a new stage in the history of the Lebanese economy as it is based on transparency and productivity.

Lebanese Investors’ contribution and partnership is a positive factor in reducing the cost of projects and raising the level of transparency of spending money and thus fighting corruption automatically. Arab countries and the world will come to Lebanon to invest in a better environment and in large projects dealing with roads, airports as well as oil and gas extraction and will ultimately generate great investment opportunities for all parties.

(English) The Global Lebanese Investors’ Board of Directors, represented by its Chairman Mr. Jacques Sarraf, Vice Chairman Mr. Samir Khatib, Board Member and Treasurer Dr. Nabil Fahed, and Secretary General Mrs. Rola Sleiman visited H.E. Mr. Adel Afiouni, Minister of State for Investment and Information Technology, on the 17th of April, to discuss possible collaboration potential in promoting investment in Lebanon.

After explaining the objectives of GLI, H.E. Mr. Afiouni showed his great interest in becoming a partner in GLI’s endeavor of bringing together the Lebanese Investors from all around the world to invest in Lebanon and benefit from the various opportunities present today, especially in lights of the CEDRE Projects and the PPP decree.

A discussion was held on the ways to develop a roadmap for GLI’s next steps, especially in regards to building the International Chapters and connecting with the Lebanese Investors living abroad; whereby H.E. Mr. Afiouni offered to provide his support by introducing GLI to Lebanese investors in a number of countries.

In order to do so, it was suggested that GLI proceeds with a roadshow through which a series of presentations are made in various locations leading up to the establishment of the International Chapters in each of these locations. His Excellency Mr. Afiouni also suggested that the initial stage targets 4 locations only: Paris, London, New York and Geneva, after which more countries/regions will be reached progressively.

In each of these countries, Lebanese investors will be invited to learn more about GLI and the added value of membership, being both the importance of this strong Lebanese network and the exposure it provides to projects/investment opportunities allowing them to partner with reputable fellow businessmen.

The meeting concluded by all parties agreeing on the common grounds for their goals, which are to benefit Lebanon and the Lebanese, through bringing them together and providing them with the opportunities that will ultimately benefit the whole economy; and that GLI has proudly partnered with the Minister of State for Investment and Information Technology on this initiative!

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