In the frame of the MENA-OECD Investment Program ‘Lebanon’s National Investment Agenda Reform’ workshop, organized by the Ministry of Finance and OECD will be held on April 19, 2007 at the Grand Serail – Beirut – Lebanon.

Objective

This meeting is one in a series of workshops to review the investment climate reform progress made by countries participating in the MENA-OECD Investment Program. The Program aims at mobilizing private investment as a driving force for growth and employment. Since 2005, a number of countries participating in the Program have developed National Investment Reform Agendas (NIRAs) with input from the private sector. These Reform Agendas comprise concrete investment policy reform measures aimed at improving the countries’ investment environment.

The topics of this workshop reflect the items of priority to the Government of Lebanon and its reform plan.

Meeting Focus

The workshop will cover key issues of investment policy reform, including investment promotion and capacity building. Experts from the Lebanese Government, the private sector, international institutions
present in Lebanon and the OECD will present on the issues and lead the discussions.

Four broad topics will be discussed during the sessions:

Session I: Business perspectives and opportunities
Session II: Enhancing the business climate through legal reforms
Session III: Towards a modern corporate tax framework
Session IV: Improving the entrepreneurial finance: Venture Capital and SMEs access to credit

National Investment Reform Agenda WorkShop - Lebanon 

 Participants

The workshop will bring together government ministries and agencies involved in reform efforts and improving the investment climate in Lebanon, as well as representatives from international organizations, the private sector and civil society.

Texts of the presentations, prestented at the Workshop held on April 19, 2007 are available by selecting the PDF icon in the table below:

Titles	Speakers	Text
Session I : Business perspectives and opportunities.
The Regulatory Framework for Investments in Telecommunications in Lebanon	Dr.Kamal Shehadi (chairman and CEO, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Lebanon).
Best International Practices in Privatization	M.Rainer Geiger ( Head, Mena - OECD Investment Programme).
Session II : Enhancing The Business Climate Through Legal Reforms.
Doing Business in Lebanon: Improving Competition and Streamlining Administrative Barriers	M.Marwan Micheal (Advisor To The Minister-Ministry Of Trade and Economy, Lebanon).
Advancement in Reforming the Procurement Law- Update and Key Features	M.Youssef Saad (Senior Procurement office, team leader, Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reforms, Lebanon).
The Ongoing Reform to Regulate The Financial Market.	M.Jean Riachi ( Chairman and general Manager, financial Funds Advisors, Lebanon).
Competition Law and Competition Policy: Lessons from Developing and Transition Economies.	M.Frederic Jenny (Chairman ,OECD competition committee).
Session III : Towards a Modern Tax Framework.
Modernizing The Tax Administration and Streamlining the Tax Procedures.	M. Louay Hajj Chehade (Director of The Revenue Directorate, Ministry of Finance, Lebanon).
A Post Implementation Assessment of The Egyptian Income Tax Reform.	M.Ashraf Al Arabi (Deputy Minister of Finance for Tax Policy, Egypt).
Corporate Tax Reform: Experience in OECD Countries.	M.Alan Carter (Senior Economist , Analysis Division, HM Revenue and Costums, UK and OECD working party 2 on tax policy analysis and tax statistics).
Session IV : Improving The Entrepreneurial Finance: Venture Capital and SMEs Access To Credit.
Access to Credit and Enterprise Financing Facilities- the Ministry of Finance Initiatives.	Dr.Wisam Fahed (Ministry of Finance, Lebanon).
Private Equity: "more than just money"	M.Paul Chucrallah (byblosInvestBank).
IFC's program to support access to finance for the private sector.	Ms.Julia Brickell (lebanon Country manager, IFC).
The Euro-Med charter for enterprise - a policy tool for the mediterranean.	Ms.Tina Mede (Enterprise and Industry Directorate , General International Affairs Unit).