Jaber heads to Washington as Berri pushes for swift passage of banking laws
Berri to Convene Parliament to Facilitate Lebanon’s Mission at Spring Meetings
Finance Minister Yassine Jaber reported that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri "intends to accelerate the discussion of two laws related to banking reform and restructuring, and to work toward their adoption by the General Assembly before the end of this month."
Berri informed Jaber that he would convene parliamentary sessions in the coming days for this purpose, and that the upcoming meeting of the Bureau of the Parliament, scheduled for next Tuesday, is a preliminary step toward calling a General Assembly session. This move aims to facilitate the mission of the Lebanese delegation attending the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington.
Prior to his departure for Washington, Jaber consulted with Speaker Berri. In addition to participating in the official IMF and World Bank sessions, Jaber will take part in a full week of meetings with officials from international banks and investment funds, as well as organizations working with the IMF, influential decision-makers, and Lebanese-American groups. His schedule also includes a gathering at the Lebanese Embassy in Washington.
Jaber stated that "the meetings aim, in addition to preparing for negotiations with the IMF and the World Bank, to address matters related to monetary reform, the concessional loan portfolio and its implementation, as well as engagement with donors to support the reconstruction project."