Doing Business in Lebanon

Syllabus of the Subject: Foreign Trade and Doing Business in Lebanon - Beirut.

1. Introduction to the Lebanese Republic (the Middle East)
2. Doing Business in Beirut
3. Lebanese economy
4. Lebanese foreign trade
5. Lebanese Customs Administration
6. Business Opportunities in Lebanon:
   1. Agro-industry
   2. Industry
   3. Information Technology
   4. Business Process Outsourcing
   5. Telecommunication
   6. Tourism
   7. Media and film industry
7. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Lebanon
8. Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL)
9. Case Study:
   1. Nayla Hayek
   2. Ayah Bdeir
   3. Lebanese largest companies
   4. INDEVCO
10. Introduction to Arabic
11. Access to the Lebanese market
12. Business Plan for Lebanon

The objectives of the subject “Foreign Trade and Doing Business in the Lebanese Republic” are the following:

1. To analyse the Lebanese economy and foreign trade
2. To evaluate the business opportunities in the Lebanese Republic
3. To explore Lebanon's trade relations with the country of the student
4. To know Lebanon's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
5. To examine the profile of the Lebanese companies
6. To develop a business plan for the Lebanese market

Sample of the subject - Doing Business in Lebanon

Description of the Subject (Online Learning): International Trade and Doing Business in Lebanon.

The Lebanese Republic:

1. With 5.8 million people, the Lebanon has 75% of Muslim population and 25% of Christians
2. The Lebanese Republic shares borders with Syria and Israel
3. Arab and French are the official languages
4. The capital of the Lebanese Republic is Beirut (1.8 million people), an important regional Port of the foreign trade
5. Main cities: Beirut, Baabda, Saida, Baalbek, Zahle, Tripoli, and Nabatiyeh
6. The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) has his headquarters in Beirut (Lebanon)
7. Independence of Lebanon: 1946 (from France)
8. Lebanese Government: Parliamentary Democracy
9. Area: 10,452 square kilometres
10. Human Development Index: 0.765

Religion in Lebanon.

1. Islam Sunni is the main religion in Lebanon (75% population), the largest school of Islamic Jurisprudence is the Hanafi
2. In Lebanon, there are about 1 million Maronites (Christians Catholics)
3. Beirut is divided between the Christian and the Muslim part

Lebanon belongs to the Arab Economic Area of the Islamic Civilisation.

Lebanese Economy.

1. The Lebanese agricultural sector accounts for about 7% of GDP.
2. The Lebanese industrial sector represents 22% of GDP and the services sector 71% of the gross domestic product, highlighting the financial and commercial sector
3. Top Lebanese public companies: Middle East Airlines, Electricity of Lebanon, Water Company, TV Lebanon Tobacco Company, and the National Wheat and Beet
4. Currency: Lebanese Pound (LBP)
5. Unemployment Rate: 13%
6. Labour Force: 1.6 million people

Sample of the subject - Doing Business in Lebanon

Foreign Trade of Lebanon.

1. Major supplier of the Lebanese Republic: The United States (11%), China (9%), France (8%), Italy (7%), and Germany (6.3%)
2. Major export destinations of the Republic of Lebanon: Switzerland, Iraq, Syria, and Saudi Arabia
3. Machinery and electrical equipment accounted for 21% of the Lebanese exports, jewellery (13%), chemicals (11%), and food (7%)
4. Top Lebanese imports: Mineral fuels (27%), machinery (12%), transport equipment (12%), and export of pharmaceutical products (4%)

Lebanon's Regional Institutions and Trade Agreements.

1. Arab League
2. European Union-Lebanon Association Agreement
   1. Euro-Mediterranean Partnership
3. Agreements with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Turkey
4. Lebanon has Trade Agreements with multiples countries: Syria (1993), Kuwait (1996), and Egypt (1998)
5. Trade Preferential System among the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (TPS-OIC)
6. Summit of South American-Arab Countries (ASPA)
7. Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED)
8. Islamic Development Bank
9. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
10. Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
11. World Bank (WB)
12. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
13. United Nations

Carlos Slim (Maronite of the Lebanese ascendency)

Safra (Judaism)

Ayah Bdeir:

Turkey-Lebanon Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

(c) EENI- Business School & Hispano-African University of International Business