LIMS, in partnership with the Lebanese American University’s Department of Economics, hosted a panel titled “Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment in Periods of Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities.” The event featured Dr. Charbel Bassil of Qatar University, who presented findings from research supported by the Templeton World Charity Foundation on the drivers behind individuals’ decisions to pursue self-employment or traditional employment in the MENA region.

The panel brought together a cross-section of stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Trade, the Ministry of Labor, UNESCWA, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, alongside academics, students, and representatives of entrepreneurship platforms.

While the discussion emphasized regional trends, attention quickly turned to Lebanon’s deteriorating economic environment and its impact on private initiative. LIMS CEO Dr. Patrick Mardini underscored that the collapse of the banking sector has effectively severed entrepreneurs from formal financing channels, with bank loans now largely inaccessible. Compounding this, Lebanon’s infrastructure challenges—most notably in electricity and telecommunications—have imposed steep additional costs, often linked to entrenched public monopolies.

Within this context, he argued that structural reforms are essential to lowering entry barriers for entrepreneurs. Specifically, liberalizing key sectors by dismantling monopolies and fostering market competition was presented as a necessary condition for entrepreneurial revival. Such measures could not improve the operating environment for startups and lay the foundation for broader economic recovery by enabling private sector-led growth.

• Challenges Of Entrepreneurship In Light Of The Collapse And The Expected Opportunities  , March 22, 2025: Al Safa News, Article AR