Hariri: Lebanon Will Make CEDRE Succeed Despite Govt. Delay

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Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri assured from London that Lebanon will seek to “make the CEDRE support conference” succeed despite the delayed efforts to form a new government.

“Although Lebanon has not formed a government yet, but we will seek to make the CEDRE conference succeed,” stressed Hariri at the Lebanon-U.K. Business and Investment Forum held in the British capital.

Highlighting the refugees crisis and its impact on the mediterranean country, Hariri added: “The economic and social challenges facing us are growing every day because of more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon for the eighth year in a row.”

“Our economy is sustaining enormous pressure which mainly are the result of regional crises,” he added.

Pinning hopes on the Forum’s outcome, he added: “I am confident that today’s event will take our trade and investment relationships to levels that meet our ambitions and capabilities.”

He pointed out “at the CEDRE conference in Paris, the Lebanese government presented a comprehensive vision aimed at stimulating growth,” he said expecting Lebanon to “spend more than $ 200 million on projects in different sectors.”

In April, international donors pledged $11 billion in low-interest loans and aid for Lebanon at the Paris CEDRE conference to try to avert an economic crisis in a country hard hit by the fallout from the Syrian war.

Lebanon's growth has plummeted due to political instability, with the effect compounded by the Syrian conflict which has sent a million refugees across the border -- equivalent to a quarter of the Lebanese population before the conflict.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 2
Thumb roflmfao over 5 years

Dudes.. it's official now.. the resilient brésilien.. has completely lost his mind.. could be .. after a nervous breakdown.. or a stroke.. hitting that ENTER button.. like he's playing Space Invaders..

Thumb natour over 5 years

When a group of Lebanese MPs from every block visited the Vatican they were told that the Syrian government doesn't want the refugees back. The Pope must work for meca.