- 11:50
Economic organizations led by Mohammad Choucair are once again calling for the establishment of an Export Development Agency.
While this request appears valid and justified at first glance, it seems these organizations have forgotten what transpired just six years ago. Back then, the government responded to a similar request by appointing commercial attachés in about 20 countries deemed "strategic" for Lebanese exports.
This initiative, however, was short-lived, likely due to financial constraints. Today, the question is not whether the project merits revival but whether the timing is right — or if this will simply be a repeat of the past. After all, the Treasury's financial situation has hardly improved since then.
Between Necessity and Reality
In August 2023, Caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib abruptly terminated the contracts of 15 economic attachés out of the 20 initially appointed in 2020 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Five of them had already resigned by that time.
The attachés had been stationed in key Lebanese embassies in cities such as Brussels, Baghdad, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Cairo, Kuwait, Moscow, Washington, Paris, Berlin, Beijing, Brasília, Mexico City, Abuja, Abidjan, London, Tokyo, Pretoria and Ottawa.
The termination aimed to reduce the Treasury’s financial burden, thus saving an estimated $2 million annually. These attachés, hired on annual contracts with average salaries ranging from $10,000 to $12,000, were let go with a three-month notice period as stipulated in their agreements.
However, the decision sparked intense controversy in political circles. Critics questioned the wisdom of such a move, particularly since some attachés had demonstrated significant productivity. Their efforts had helped secure economic agreements beneficial to Lebanon and identified critical flaws in trade deals with some European and Arab countries that disadvantaged the Lebanese state.
There is no doubt that Lebanon needs its economic attachés and, more importantly, an effective Export Development Agency. Industry and exports remain the only viable engines to lift the country out of its economic crisis.
Yet, for such efforts to succeed, Lebanon must first fulfill its own obligations, i.e. implementing serious reforms, restoring trust of international partners and stabilizing its public finances. Only then can trade with international partners thrive and contribute to a meaningful economic recovery.
Comments