Summary
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development intends to invest at least $200 million in Lebanese equities, renewable energy and water resources in 2019, the development bank's vice president Alain Pilloux said Monday.
In May, Fransabank, one of the largest banks in Lebanon, received a $50 million credit line from the EBRD to finance trade activities in Lebanon.
EBRD plans to open an office in Beirut to study and assess potential projects in Lebanon that the bank may invest in.
EBRD said it also hopes to work closely with Lebanon's private sector in various fields.
Pilloux also said that he sees potential in investing in water infrastructure projects in the country.
The development bank can contribute to private-public partnerships, Pilloux said, by providing assistance to the private sector, which will ally with the government to rebuild Lebanon's infrastructure.
He said that in the first stage EBRD will work closely with Lebanese banks to approach the private sector.
Pilloux said that the interest rates charged by his bank are almost identical to other commercial banks.
...