Liliane Mokbel is an experienced journalist and editor specializing in economics, with many years of work in print media and radio. A graduate of ESCP Business School, she is also skilled in web writing and proficient in AI-assisted content creation tools, offering insightful and accessible analysis of curret economic issues.
Liliane Mokbel 01/02 12:43 - Reading : less than a minute
Car imports through the port of Beirut have seen a significant -20% drop in the first eleven months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. From January to November 2024, a total of 41,135 cars were imported, down from 51,423 during the same period last year, reflecting a slowdown in the automotive import sector.
Liliane Mokbel 31/01 17:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
European Union Syria Sanctions US
The 27-member European Union agreed on Monday on a "roadmap" to gradually ease sanctions on key sectors of the Syrian economy that were imposed under the former regime of Bashar al-Assad. However, the EU has ruled out any unconditional lifting of these measures. The process will be gradual and subject to strict conditions. In other words, the bloc ...
Liliane Mokbel 26/01 17:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The scandal of “electoral hiring” in the public sector is not a new phenomenon. What drives these “hunters of ghost jobs” is less the salary than the associated perks: generous bonuses, discretionary spending, allowances for occasional assignments, representation expenses, and even travel indemnities for overseas trips, often handed out ...
Liliane Mokbel 25/01 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
In 2024, out of the 2,000,000 vehicles in Lebanon's automotive fleet, 800,000 are not registered with the Vehicle Registration Department and, as a result, lack mandatory auto liability insurance. This means there is roughly one car for every two residents, in a country where public transportation is virtually non-existent. The mandatory ...
Liliane Mokbel 23/01 11:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Abdallah Bou Habib Kuwait Washington
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 ...
Liliane Mokbel 21/01 19:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Banks Central Bank of Lebanon Depositors Syrians
During a visit to Syria in early January, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati was met with a striking demand from the country’s new ruler, Ahmad al-Sharaa: the restitution of Syrian deposits held in Lebanese banks. While the request might appear justified on the surface, it lacks clarity and a solid legal foundation, according to a legal ...
Liliane Mokbel 04/01 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
62 stores are currently open and welcoming customers at the Beirut Souks Shopping Center. Seven of these opened in December 2024, and six more are expected to open in January. However, the total number of open stores is still just under half of the 140 originally planned for the end of 2024 – a target set before the two months of conflict.
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-28 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Banks prices inflation crisis world bank
In Lebanon, prices in dollars rose by 4.9% between September 2019 and September 2024, according to the World Bank. Meanwhile, the Central Directorate of Statistics reports a staggering 5970% increase in prices in Lebanese pounds over the same period.
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-21 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
The Lebanese population is estimated at 5.77 million in 2023, up from 5.74 million in 2022 and 5.72 million in 2021, according to ESCWA. Lebanon's demographic trends reveal a steady growth rate since 1950, when the population stood at 1.35 million. By 2000, the population had reached 4.33 million, and by 2020, it had grown to 5.70 million. The ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-18 20:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The issue of counterfeit $50 bills appears to be nearing a resolution. Over 80% of shops, supermarkets and gas stations now accept these bills for cash payments. The remaining 15% mainly consists of small neighborhood businesses, which have been particularly affected by the economic crisis and the fragility of a cash-reliant economy. “Most ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-14 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Hezbollah Israel damage reconstruction
The price of a meter of glass has surged to $80, up from $30 before the start of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. This price does not include the cost of labor for installation. Glaziers attribute the increase to a surge in demand, primarily driven by the reconstruction and repair of buildings and structures damaged by Israeli ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-13 20:07 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanese farmers continue to endure substantial losses. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, the movement of refrigerated and covered trucks between Lebanon and the Arab hinterland has become increasingly irregular. All Lebanese exports and imports sent overland to and from the Arab world are reliant on transit through ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-10 16:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Syria Reconstruction Caesar Act
According to estimates from various UN and international sources, Syria's reconstruction could yield benefits for all. However, these prospects remain uncertain and far from guaranteed. With the country still reeling from the war that followed the 2011 uprising, Syria's reconstruction is shaping up to be a lengthy and costly process, but it ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-08 13:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syria is left with a crumbling economy, shaped by decades of state control and average wages barely surpassing $40 per month. The country’s economic prospects now depend largely on the removal of American and Western sanctions, as well as financial assistance from the international community. ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-07 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
The hotel occupancy rate in Beirut has fallen below 10%, while in other regions, it is approaching 0%, according to Pierre Achkar, president of the Union of Syndicates of Tourist Establishments in Lebanon. "Arab countries continue to boycott Lebanon, and European nations do not anticipate a swift return of their citizens. A mandatory waiting ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-06 18:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Central Bank of Lebanon Dollar Bills Counterfeit
Are counterfeit dollar bills circulating in the market? If so, it's clear that this issue is not limited to Lebanon but also affects other global markets. However, the Lebanese are particularly sensitive to it due to the country's economic crisis, which has left the cash economy in a fragile state, all amid a "neither peace nor war" situation ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-05 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The sector shows significant growth potential, however, realizing this requires enhancements to logistical infrastructure and improvements to the regulatory framework. According to Statista Market Insight, Lebanon’s e-commerce market is expected to reach $1.311 billion in revenue in 2024, with an average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.88% ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-02 19:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Economy Industry Commerce Parliament Lebanon
Industrial and commercial business owners are celebrating a major victory. Last Thursday, Parliament passed in a plenary session the bill amending Article 45 of Decree-Law No. 144 of June 12, 1959 (the Income Tax Law). This amendment grants "exceptional authorization" to income taxpayers, allowing them to revalue their inventories and real estate ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-30 15:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Lebanon’s Central Bank (BDL) is easing the pressure to appease the foreign exchange market, amid a “neither war nor peace” climate that only heightens its volatility. The decision by the BDL’s Central Council, dated November 26, 2024, reflects clear intent to implement a “flexible monetary policy” even though this approach might ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-30 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
According to Elie Kazzi, the President of the Syndicate of Used Car Importers, losses due to damage to imported vehicles during the war between Israel and Hezbollah are estimated at around $60 million. The sector remains particularly vulnerable, as many Lebanese are reluctant to buy used cars during periods of instability, especially since they ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-27 16:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Central Bank of Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Insurances Reinsurers
Reinsurers are hesitant to renew reinsurance contracts with Lebanese insurance companies — an expected approach in view of the conflict sparked by Hezbollah’s front against Israel. As the year-end approaches, most annual reinsurance agreements for the 40 insurance companies operating in Lebanon are set to expire. Negotiations have been ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-23 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that 70% of the Lebanese agricultural sector has been affected, both directly and indirectly. Thousands of hectares have been completely or nearly destroyed, and 65,000 olive trees have been fully burned due to white phosphorus bombings, which are prohibited under ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-20 18:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Even before rebuilding residential and commercial units, priority will be given to restoring infrastructure as soon as hostilities end. This step is crucial to reestablishing the normal functioning of the social and economic fabric within any community. In this context, the caretaker government led by Najib Mikati, with the support of the World ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-17 19:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel economy consumption displaced
Many Lebanese have begun purchasing fruits and vegetables individually, a practice rarely seen in a culture that traditionally favors buying by the kilo. Grocery baskets have shrunk in both quantity and variety. Testimonies from mothers gathered by This is Beirut reveal a shift toward prioritizing legumes, which are more affordable than meat, ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-15 18:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Central Bank of Lebanon Hezbollah International Monetary Fund Israel Budget 2025
With spending on the rise and revenues falling short of expectations, the 2025 budget proposal is now effectively obsolete. The government must act swiftly to withdraw it from Parliament, where it was submitted on time, to prevent a deepening crisis. Why is a crisis inevitable? The current draft budget relies on unrealistic revenue projections, ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-14 11:25 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Banks Central Bank of Lebanon Donald Trump International Monetary Fund USA
While the dollar’s value is primarily shaped by US domestic factors, its fluctuations continue to ripple through the global economy. A 2023 International Monetary Fund (IMF) study found that the negative impact of a strong dollar tends to last around two and a half years in emerging markets, compared to just one year in developed economies. The ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-10 21:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
syria border crossings lebanon
The Lebanon-Syria border is dotted with countless unofficial crossing points. Without natural barriers like rivers, mountains or a coastal divide, an effective demarcation of the border remains challenging. There are currently only six official crossings, three of which have been put out of operation by Israeli strikes. Masnaa, Kaa, Daboussiyeh, ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-07 19:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Amal Central Bank of Lebanon Reserves
Political pressure from the Amal-Hezbollah duo on the government is mounting, driven by rising complaints among the displaced population and the decrease in international aid. Faced with limited options, Lebanon is now in a state of voluntary default. All eyes are set on the foreign currency reserves of Lebanon’s central bank (BDL) and the ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-05 18:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Amal Central Bank of Lebanon Displaced
The Shiite duo (Amal-Hezbollah) reportedly has its sights set on the funds in Lebanon's Treasury Account 36 to support the displaced. This account comprises funds collected by the Lebanese state, primarily from taxes, customs duties, donations and other sources of public revenue. Recently, Hezbollah and Amal MPs and ministers, including Hussein ...
Liliane Mokbel 2024-10-31 19:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The Lebanese industrial sector has experienced a significant loss of domestic market share, with the notable exception of the pharmaceutical and food industries, as consumers increasingly prioritize essential goods. Furthermore, opportunities for international trade have diminished. According to Ziad Bekdache, Vice President of the Association of ...