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Influential Experts Give Keynote Speeches at LLA Graduation Ceremony
October 6, 2018 – Le Gray Hotel, Beirut Lebanon
Gala Dinner
30 activists from 8 political parties celebrated their graduation from the LIMS Leaders’ Academy annual program in one of the most prestigious venues in the capital. 80 guests attended the ceremony representing all political parties, the media, as well as foreign guests. Participants felt proud of the work they achieved throughout the year.
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During the ceremony, Dr. Dan Mitchell explained that Lebanese people make $12,000 more than average Americans in the United States, but are lacking opportunities in Lebanon. He emphasized that they are ambitious and talented not only in the United States, but around the world. Unfortunately, immense restrictions are prohibiting them from any success within their country. In his speech, Dr. Tom Palmer congratulated all participants on their inspiring work. He explained that while listening to their pitches, no one cared about which party they have affiliations with; instead, all of them focused on improving the current situation. Dr. Palmer also admired the professionalism in the work conducted and that the solutions provided, could have a great impact on the Lebanese economy.
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Advancing Liberty Award
LIMS awarded Mr. Ghassan Baydoun the Advancing Liberty Award for his work on enhancing transparency in the electricity sector in Lebanon. This award seeks to highlight and honor people who have worked tirelessly and relentlessly on improving peoples’ lives for the past year. In his speech, Mr. Baydoun explained the importance of honesty and integrity at work and on resisting any temptation or pressure from others. Mr. Baydoun admired the great work of the participants and believed that thanks to them and the program, Lebanon has a more optimistic future.
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Participants of LLA 401 Policy Fair Present Innovative Ideas
October 6, 2018 – Le Gray Hotel, Beirut Lebanon
Participants presented their policy propositions in a one-minute elevator pitch in front of 80 guests; they then discussed their solutions with senior staff from different political parties in an unconference format. Solutions included: Privately managed toll roads from the Amal Movement; a free market zone in Tripoli by the Azm Movement; a one-stop shop to simplify doing business in Lebanon from the Future Movement;
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A private insurance for the elderly by the Lebanese Forces Party; opening the telecom sector for competition by the Marada Movement; allowing private companies into the water sector from the National Liberal Party; letting private companies establish a rapid bus transit system by the Progressive Socialist Party; and allowing private companies to enter into the electricity sector in Lebanon by the Tashnag Party.
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MPs Discuss 2019 Budget Challenge at Roundtable Event
October 8, 2018 – Lebanese Parliament, Beirut, Lebanon
LIMS held a workshop at the Lebanese Parliament entitled “Lebanese MPs Facing the 2019 Budget Challenge” under the patronage of the speaker Nabih Berri, represented by Minister of State for Administrative Reforms Dr. Inaya Ezzeddine. 12 MPs from 8 different political parties participated in the workshop along with 50 other ministerial and parliamentary staff. Attendees took part in the highly interactive workshop session, as Lebanon faces a huge obstacle, and is currently ranked as the third most indebted country in the world.
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Dr. Daniel Mitchell, one of the world’s leading experts in fiscal policy, focused on the Lebanese debt problem and advised how to reduce it. He suggested adopting a spending cap rule, to control spending rather than increasing taxes. The latter would hurt economic growth, while also decreasing the state revenues instead of raising them.
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Dr. Tom Palmer, executive vice president for international programs at the ATLAS Network, talked about the economic and financial situation in Lebanon, and noted that Greece’s economic crisis developed due to the government’s random expenditure. In the case of Lebanon, Dr. Palmer emphasized the problem be solved promptly, to avoid a massive crisis in the near future. Lebanon’s political situation and the turmoil in the region would convert any economic crisis into social and security unrest.
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Dr. Patrick Mardini, president of LIMS, focused on the high probability of Lebanon’s default on its debt. He suggested allowing private companies to invest in infrastructure projects instead of depending on government funding. Competition between private companies would secure a better quality service for customers. Dr. Mardini suggested the idea of using CEDRE loans to swap the current debt that has high interest to lower ones, which would lead to reducing the public debt service and improve public finances, without sacrificing infrastructure projects.
Minister Inaya Ezzeddine stated that the budget was supposed to be an ordinary yearly task, but it has been delayed for 11 years so far. Dr. Ezzeddine focused on digital transformation, anti-corruption, adopting a more just tax system, and organizing relations between the public and the private sector, by helping to develop infrastructure, and public services.
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Government Refuses Siemens Better Offer to Resolve Electricity Shortage
October 9, 2018- Al-Manar Television Studio, Lebanon
The news about the Ministry of Energy and Water refusing Siemens offer to deal with the electricity problem in Lebanon created much hype in the country. Dr. Mardini intervened on the debate highlighting the integrated solution offered by Siemens included production, transmission, and distribution. He showed that if Siemens offered Lebanon the same price they did to Libya— which is $800 million for 1,300 per megawatt— the Lebanese government would save $500,000,000 compared to the powership deal that the government is trying to rent. Dr. Mardini highlighted that what prevented Siemens from applying to the tender offer was its restrictive condition.
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Lebanon Faces Difficulties Fueling “Free” Power Barge
October 18, 2018- Al-Manar Television Studio, Beirut, Lebanon
The Lebanese government managed to negotiate a “free” power barge to support the Lebanese electricity grid over the summer. The barge was scheduled to end its operation around mid-October and speculation about a contract renewal for the barge started to circulate in Lebanon. According to Dr. Mardini, the Lebanese government doesn’t have enough money to buy the fuel for the power barge. Any additional funding would require a special loan given the state of the Lebanese treasury. The Ministry of Energy and Water already exceeded its budget for 2018, and additional spending should go through a complicated process in the parliament, with a new tender procedure that will take time. For such reasons, the power barge should leave Lebanon.
Click here to watch the interview in Arabic |
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Lebanon’s Electricity Sector Receives More Financial Support from Government
October 23, 2018 - Voix Du Liban Radio, Beirut, Lebanon
The Ministry of Energy and Water put the Lebanese government in front of a bitter choice, either face harsh blackouts until the end of the year or spend 642 billion Lebanese pounds to buy additional fuel. There’s currently a shortage for the rest of 2018, given the current increase in the international price of oil from $40 to $80 per barrel. During his interview with VDL, Dr. Mardini argued that 45% of this amount would be put to waste and the remaining 55% will get sold off to the public at a loss. As the Lebanese government does not have this amount of money, they have to borrow it which means new debt on the electricity sector. Instead of wasting this money, Dr. Mardini suggested allowing private companies to come into the sector to fix the network, improve on bill collection, and increase production, which would cost the government zero dollars, all while resolving the problem.
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CEDRE Reforms: Government Infrastructure Plans, Should Allow Private Sector to Enter
October 31, 2018 – Tajadod Headquarters, Beirut, Lebanon
Earlier in 2018, the Lebanese government held a conference asking international donors for $17 billion in loans, as a means to fund infrastructure projects and promising structural reforms in return. A workshop held by the Al-Tajaddod Movement discussed three policy papers on the feasibility of government reforms. LIMS Senior Policy Analyst Mr. Majdi Aref participated in the discussion and cautioned against increasing the debt level. The private sector should be allowed to invest in infrastructure, instead of relying on government spending, especially because Lebanon presently ranks in as one of the most indebted countries in the world.
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Lebanese MPs Facing the 2019 Budget Challenge
Round-table with Lebanese MPs
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Giving a Fresh Solution to Lebanon’s Water Pollution
Majdi Aref | Lebanese Institute for Market Studies
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