RDCL Organized an Exclusive Session at the Lebanese Industry Expo 2025 Entitled “Ease of Doing Business”

 The Lebanese Business Leaders Association (RDCL) organized an exclusive session titled “Ease of Doing Business” as part of the Lebanese Industry Expo 2025, held on Friday, October 31, 2025, at Seaside Arena – Beirut. The session featured H.E. Dr. Amer Bisat, Minister of Economy and Trade, as keynote speaker; Mr. Alessandro Vittadini, Head of Lebanon at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); and was moderated by Mr. Nicolas Boukather, RDCL Member and Chairman of A.N. Boukather Holding.

In her opening remarks, Mrs. Joumana Saddi Chaya, President of RDCL, underlined that “through perseverance and determination, the legal private sector continues to evolve and innovate despite the difficulties Lebanon is facing. Hope for the future endures thanks to the energy and resilience of the Lebanese people. We must preserve the spirit of work and productivity, no matter the challenges.” She added that “RDCL will continue its efforts to stimulate reform and build bridges of cooperation between the public and private sectors to achieve growth and economic stability.”

Mr. Nicolas Boukather emphasized that “the Lebanese legal private sector has been the cornerstone of resilience during one of the most severe economic crises in modern history. Yet resilience alone is not enough; it must be transformed into competitiveness, productivity, and sustainable growth.” He further noted that “digital transformation should not be seen as a mere technical option but as a catalyst for transparency, efficiency, and trust between the public and private sectors. The question today is no longer about the problem itself but about the direction—how to unleash the potential of the legal private sector and rebuild confidence through reform, stability, and renewed collaboration between the state and the private sector.”

For his part, H.E. Dr. Amer Bisat reviewed Lebanon’s economic landscape and the opportunities for recovery, noting that “the current circumstances finally allow us to start dreaming again of a better Lebanon.” He stressed that the recovery path requires restoring public finances, restructuring the banking sector, modernizing public administration, reforming institutions, and strengthening productive sectors—particularly industry—to reduce costs and enhance competitiveness.

Mr. Alessandro Vittadini shared his impressions since moving to Lebanon several months ago, pointing out that while the country faces major economic challenges, it also enjoys exceptional human and productive capacities. He highlighted that “facilitating business activity lies at the heart of the EBRD’s mission to support the transition toward a more open economy and empower the legal private sector to grow and prosper.” He added that cooperation between the state and the private sector is the practical way to turn these capacities into real development opportunities.

The session concluded with an engaging discussion addressing the main challenges facing Lebanon’s business environment and the means to turn them into growth opportunities through a comprehensive reform vision that rebuilds confidence in the national economy and attracts new investments. Speakers emphasized the need to ensure access to financing for the private sector, reduce production costs—particularly in energy, transport, and telecommunications—advance fiscal and banking reforms, and modernize public administration. They also highlighted the role of digital transformation in simplifying procedures, enhancing transparency, promoting fair competition, and improving governance, while strengthening regional and international partnerships to reaffirm Lebanon’s position as a promising destination for business and investment.

The session reaffirmed RDCL’s ongoing commitment to promoting reform, empowering the legal private sector, and restoring confidence in Lebanon’s economic recovery.