Beirut One Conference, is an international conference held in Beirut, Lebanon. This is the first event of its kind, since the country's 2019 economic collapse. The conference that was organized by the Lebanese government and high patronage of its President Joseph Aoun, aims to mark the beginning of a new chapter for Lebanon after years of economic crisis and political instability. The conference brings together representatives of the Lebanese private sector, diaspora, Arab and foreign investors, and international partners.
Since 2019, Lebanon has experienced a severe financial and economic collapse, including the banking sector crisis, a sharp currency devaluation, and an ongoing political standstill. [1] The new government established in 2025 has been working to restore political and economic stability after years of crisis. [2] The government has been working to fix public institutions, make deals with international lenders, and stop the Lebanese pound from losing more value. [3] The new administration is trying to win back people's trust by fighting corruption and encouraging new talks between the main political groups. The conference is regarded by Lebanon as an opportunity to reconnect with regional and international partners. [4] [5]
According to reports and official communications, Beirut One Conference is intended to:
The conference aims to reassure investors in Lebanon and signal a commitment to economic and institutional reforms. [6] [7]
The conference will present opportunities in key sectors, notably infrastructure, with Economy Minister Bisat highlighting an estimated US$7.5 billion in potential infrastructure investments. [8]
The conference is an opportunity to reconnect with its Arab surroundings, especially Gulf states, and with the Lebanese diaspora. [9]
The private sector is Offered a platform to international partners to discuss a medium-term capital investment program and possible project pipelines. [1]
"Rebuilding trust" is considered by officials as the main theme of this conference, as the country is eager to recreate state-citizen and state-investor relations after the crisis years. [10] [11]
Reports say that about 150 investors and business leaders from Arab and foreign countries signed up for the conference, along with Lebanese private sector representatives and banks and other financial institutions. Delegations from several Arab countries, including Gulf states and notable people like Saudi Arabia's envoy to Lebanon, Prince Yazid bin Farhan, [12] [13] as well as Western diplomatic and economic representatives, were also reported to attend. The organizers’ promotional material says that international organizations, development banks, and Lebanese diaspora networks are also among the groups they aim to bring to the event. [8] [14]
President Joseph Aoun who presented the opening speech, stated that Lebanon had “begun a path of genuine reforms”, referring to the adoption of laws aimed at improving transparency, its banking reform, meeting FATF standards, strengthening oversight and accountability bodies, and rebuilding state institutions “on solid foundations”. He then called it a "beginning of a new chapter" for Lebanon and argued that the country seeks trust rather than sympathy from its partners, linking investment to political and security stability. [15] [16]
Economy Minister Amer Bisat, stated that Beirut One Conference is “the conference of rebuilding trust” and “the beginning of a new trajectory to restore confidence between the state and its citizens,” while acknowledging that the recovery path would be “difficult and long”. [17] [7] [11]
According to reports they see Beirut One Conference taking place at in a very important political and economic moment, marking a symbolic reopening of Lebanon to investors and a possible spark for investment that has been delayed for a long time, especially in infrastructure and productive sectors. [1] [7]
Critics and skeptical observers, and some Lebanese commentators and civil society organizations, doubt that big, high-profile conferences can really work without deeper structural reforms and real accountability for past economic mismanagement. They also warn that promised investments may never actually arrive, similar to what happened after previous donor conferences. [1]
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