LEBANON (Enmaeya News) - January 7, 2026

Former Economy Minister and head of the Economic Bodies, Mohammad Chqeir, said Lebanon could double its economic growth to 10% in 2026 if stability is maintained and reforms move forward.

In a statement, Chqeir identified key challenges for the coming year, including reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund and advancing public sector reform, stressing that addressing these issues would be critical.

Reflecting on 2025, Chqeir said Lebanon’s economy delivered a “good” performance despite ongoing challenges. He noted that the country was able to benefit from the tourism season, which helped boost economic activity.

Chqeir attributed the recorded progress to several factors, most notably the election of President Joseph Aoun and the formation of a new government headed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

He added that Lebanon witnessed a noticeable surge in tourism during the holiday season, accompanied by increased activity across the commercial and services sectors.

According to available estimates, Chqeir said the Lebanese economy is expected to register growth of around 5% in 2025. He praised the performance of sectors including industry, franchising, tourism, services, information technology, agriculture, and retail.

However, he acknowledged that several sectors remain in recession, particularly the banking sector, due to the absence of a financial restructuring law and unresolved deposit recovery.

Chqeir noted that foreign investment remains very limited, while domestic investment has been recorded in select sectors but continues to fall short of Lebanon’s full economic potential.