Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Thursday he is determined to carry out the necessary reforms despite many difficulties, and commended the Egyptian experience.
“It is not easy, especially if we want to fight corruption and squander,” Hariri told the Arab Economic Forum 2019 held at the Four Seasons Hotel, with the participation of the Egyptian Prime Minister, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, and many Lebanese, Egyptian and Arab officials and businessmen.
According to the Lebanese Prime Minister, the most important common challenge today in the Arab countries is to stimulate growth and diversify its sources to create jobs for the youth.
“We are now convinced that this cannot be achieved without implementing reforms that can develop our national economies… without the modernization of our procedures, laws and administrations and the promotion of governance and transparency,” he said.
Hariri also called on learning from the Egyptian experience and expertise in the fields of electricity, communications, gas, oil and other sectors.
“What we are trying to do today in Lebanon is actually the same as Egypt did, but the difference is that Egypt suffered economically more than Lebanon,” he said.
“That is why we are implementing optimistic reform plans. Some ask how we can implement these reforms. I say that these reforms are in the interest of the Lebanese citizen and the young men and women who do not find jobs at the moment,” Hariri explained.
He said a meeting of the Lebanese-Egyptian Higher Joint Committee in Beirut is expected on Friday to lay the foundations for further cooperation and coordination between the two countries to promote trade exchange and joint investments.
