During an official visit to France, Prime Minster Rafik Hariri encouraged French businessmen to invest in Lebanon, adding that the Lebanese economy would receive a boost this year from around $1.5 billion worth of projects for which the cabinet had already secured the required funds.
In his meeting with senior French officials, Mr. Hariri confirmed that the Lebanese government would start privatizing state-assets this year and said the process would generate $5 billion that will be allocated to reduce Lebanon’s public debt.
Hariri also announced that the law on fighting money laundering would be passed by Parliament and enforced by June, before the deadline given by Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to remove Lebanon from the black list and avoid making it the subject of international sanctions. The Prime Minister promised that his Cabinet would enforce the law immediately after its promulgation by the parliament. — ( Lebanon Invest )
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
