The truth must be told even if plain speaking causes concern and trouble. The reality is that the current tax system must be amended to balance the budget. ...
A clear government budget aimed at cutting the deficit would induce the Central Bank to reduce interest rates, says Henry Azzam, chief economist and managing...
Value-added Tax is coming to Lebanon. The Ministry of Finance wants to introduce the tax and the International Monetary Fund is providing the expertise in...
Middle East Airlines’ management went on the offensive Wednesday after a call by the pilots syndicate to replace the airline’s board of directors. The war of...
Lebanese industrialists should start joint-venture projects with foreign companies to open new markets abroad, said Nasser Saidi, minister of economy, trade...
Privatizing part of the state-owned telephone company was on the government’s agenda, said Issam Naaman, minister of post and telecommunications. “We’re...
Samir Nasr is a believer in open and unrestricted free trade between Lebanon and the rest of the world. “It is now clearly established that protectionism...
Nasser Saidi, minister of economy, trade and industry, has spoken out again on the government’s hopes of cutting a big chunk of the public debt through...
A row has broken out between Middle East Airlines and KLM over the Dutch airline’s daily flights to Beirut. Mohammed Hout, chairman of MEA, Wednesday urged...
Lebanon will be obliged to impose a value-added tax as income from Customs duties falls over the next few years, the prime minister has announced. Addressing...
Adnan Kassar took a stern test soon after becoming the first Lebanese and Arab president of the International Chamber of Commerce. He went to Russia. Sitting...
George Corm has walked into a storm with his comments about Lebanon’s financial stature in the region. The minister of finance, who is known for his...
Finance Minister George Corm Thursday ruled out the return of Lebanon to its pre-war glory on the world’s financial map, insisting that this unrealistic...
A scheme to provide small businesses with capital at low interest rates is about to be implemented by the government. The Loan Guarantee Corporation is...
Middle East Airlines, which cut its losses to $62 million in 1998 from $87.4 million in 1997, faces another crucial test this year which could determine the...
Riad Salameh, governor of the Central Bank, has come out against raising income tax from its present level of 10 percent. “Adopting a low tax structure will...
Unpaid bills amounting to $333 million have been added to George Corm’s long list of outstanding invoices. This time the bills have come from the contracting...
Monetary stability in Lebanon would be threatened if the government failed to curb the bedget deficit, Habib Zoghbi, president of the Harvard Business School...
George Corm not only smiled a lot, he became positively jovial as he bantered with the press on a day when he had something to celebrate. Sitting between...
Tile- and ceramic-maker Uniceramic made a net profit of $1.05 million in 1998, thanks to an extensive restructuring program to improve production. This...
Beirut Stock Exchange had the poorest performance among nine Arab stock markets in the last three months of last year. Of the nine, only the BSE saw its...
A short-lived rumor that Beirut Riyad Bank would be bought by Ark Financial Group for $100 million has put this medium-sized bank in the spotlight. Headed by...
Fransabank has joined the list of leading commercial banks that have achieved steady growth in net profits. Profits for the bank rose to $45 million in 1998...
The government is poised to cash in its chips at the casino. Many brokers believe that Compagnie Casino du Liban, is one of the safest bets for a sell-off as...
Support was voiced Friday for the proposal to privatize the national telephone network as a means of reducing the public debt. The policy, which has been much...