Beirut: The Lebanese Business Leaders Association (RDCL) organized an exclusive session titled ‘Ease of Doing Business’ as part of the Lebanese Industry Expo 2025, held on Friday, October 31, 2025, at Seaside Arena – Beirut. The session featured H.E. Dr. Amer Bisat, Minister of Economy and Trade, as keynote speaker; Mr. Alessandro Vittadini, Head of Lebanon at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); and was moderated by Mr. Nicolas Boukather, RDCL Member and Chairman of A.N. Boukather Holding.
According to National news agency – Lebanon, in her opening remarks, Mrs. Joumana Saddi Chaya, President of RDCL, underlined that the legal private sector continues to evolve and innovate despite the difficulties Lebanon is facing. She emphasized the importance of preserving the spirit of work and productivity, regardless of challenges. She added that RDCL will continue its efforts to stimulate reform and foster cooperation between the public and private sectors to achieve growth and economic stability.
Mr. Nicolas Boukather emphasized that the Lebanese legal private sector has been the cornerstone of resilience during one of the most severe economic crises in modern history. He noted that resilience must be transformed into competitiveness, productivity, and sustainable growth. Digital transformation, he stated, should serve as a catalyst for transparency, efficiency, and trust between the public and private sectors.
H.E. Dr. Amer Bisat reviewed Lebanon’s economic landscape and opportunities for recovery, stressing the need for restoring public finances, restructuring the banking sector, modernizing public administration, reforming institutions, and strengthening productive sectors, particularly industry.
Mr. Alessandro Vittadini shared his observations since moving to Lebanon, pointing out the country’s exceptional human and productive capacities. He highlighted that facilitating business activity is central to the EBRD’s mission to support the transition toward a more open economy and empower the legal private sector.
The session concluded with a discussion addressing the main challenges facing Lebanon’s business environment and the means to turn them into growth opportunities through a comprehensive reform vision. Speakers emphasized the need to ensure access to financing for the private sector, reduce production costs, advance fiscal and banking reforms, modernize public administration, and strengthen regional and international partnerships.
The session reaffirmed RDCL’s commitment to promoting reform, empowering the legal private sector, and restoring confidence in Lebanon’s economic recovery.