During his visit, met with a wide
range of political, economic and business figures and
officials including President Michel Aoun, Prime
Minister Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri, in
addition to MP’s, Ministers for Economy, Energy,
Transport and Telecommunications.
Discussions focused on various economic and trade
issues including the UK’s growing bilateral trade
relations with Lebanon after the signature of the
Association Agreement during the UK-Lebanon Tech Forum
in London on 19 September. This agreement provides a
platform for trade between the UK and Lebanon to grow,
with total trade worth £603 million in 2018. It also
provides the certainty for British and Lebanese
consumers and businesses to continue trading following
the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The agreement will
provide a framework for cooperation on and development
of political, economic, social and cultural links.
Lord Risby’s visit comes at a challenging time for
Lebanon. Earlier this month the Government of Lebanon
set out further proposed reforms on top of those
already committed to at CEDRE. discussed how the
UK can continue to support these reforms, including
through the Capital Investment Programme, and getting
more UK companies involved in infrastructure projects,
oil and gas and other opportunities. also visited the
Beirut Container Terminal Consortium – operating Beirut
Container Port - a joint venture between Lebanese and
UK companies that has in over 15 years created more
than 3000 local jobs, boosted container handling
four-fold to 1.2 million.
At the end of his visit, said:
I am pleased to visit Lebanon for the first time
after my appointment as the Prime Minister’s Trade
Envoy for Lebanon, a country that has great trade and
business potential. It is clear there is much work to
be done to address the areas of economic concern
here, but UK-Lebanese relations have never been
stronger. On 19 September we saw Lebanese and UK
Ministers sign the UK-Lebanon Agreement in London
which signals continuity and confidence in our
trading relations as the UK leaves the EU.
My meetings with Lebanese officials and senior
business people highlighted Lebanon’s great potential
and unfolded opportunities for more UK private
companies to invest in Lebanon. I look forward to
more British and Lebanese companies doing business
with each other, as the UK remains a committed
partner investing in Lebanon’s security, stability
and prosperity’.
At a reception held in honor of , Ambassador Chris
Rampling addressed his guests from across the business,
trade and political spectrums saying:
It’s a great pleasure to receive whose role is
dedicated to deepening trade and investment ties
between the UK and Lebanon. Coming less than a year
after the inaugural investment forum between the UK
and Lebanon last December, and the Association
Agreement signature between both our countries in
London on 19 September, this is a clear demonstration
of how rapidly our two countries ties have grown
stronger.
As I have said before, the UK supports the Government
of Lebanon’s programme and CEDRE: economic reform
will be painful, but it is urgent for Lebanon to
regain confidence. The Association Agreement is truly
an important milestone in UK and Lebanese relations,
which are stronger today than ever before. Britain
remains firmly behind Lebanon’s steps towards
long-term security, stability, and prosperity.
