## IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Lebanon

_IMF News, March 13, 2025_

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**Canonical URL:** [IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Lebanon](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2025/03/13/pr25062-lebanon-imf-staff-concludes-visit)

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## Bibliographic details
- Published: March 13, 2025

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### Mission overview
- Press Release No. 25/062
- Mission dates: March 10-13, 2025
- IMF team leader: Mr. Ernesto Ramirez Rigo
- Purpose: Fact-finding visit to meet Lebanese authorities and exchange views on the current economic situation and outlook.
- End-of-mission note: The mission will not result in a Board discussion; the views are those of IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board.

### Key findings on the economy
- Lebanon’s economy remains "severely depressed."
- Poverty and unemployment are "exceptionally high since the 2019 crisis."
- The banking sector collapse continues to hamper economic activity and provision of credit, with depositors unable to access their funds.
- Infrastructure and housing destruction and displacement resulting from the recent conflict have further exacerbated Lebanon's challenges.
- Lebanon continues to host a large number of refugees, which "adds a significant burden to its economy."
- Humanitarian and reconstruction needs are "substantial and require coordinated international support."

### Recent policy actions and outcomes
- Recent policy actions have helped maintain some degree of economic stability.
- Inflation declined and the exchange rate stabilized following:
  - "the elimination of the fiscal deficit since mid-2023,"
  - support from "the central bank's ending monetary financing and foreign exchange subsidies."
- Revenue collection has improved despite the conflict, helping to support essential spending.
- Expenditure pressures intensified in the second half of 2024.
- IMF staff judged that these steps "are insufficient to address the ongoing economic, financial, and social challenges."

### Priorities for IMF-supported engagement
- IMF staff welcomed the authorities' request for a new IMF-supported program to support efforts to address Lebanon's significant economic challenges.
- Suggested focus areas for a comprehensive economic reform program:
  - Fiscal and debt sustainability
  - Financial sector restructuring
  - Economic growth enablers
  - Governance and state-owned enterprise reforms
  - Strengthening data provision to enhance transparency and inform policymaking

### IMF stance and next steps
- "The IMF stands ready, together with the international community, to support the authorities’ efforts in addressing these challenges."
- Following the fact-finding mission, IMF staff will remain in close contact with the authorities to help develop a comprehensive economic reform program.
- The IMF team expressed gratitude to the Lebanese authorities and other stakeholders for "their constructive engagement and cooperation during this mission."

*IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Lebanon — Press Release No. 25/062, March 13, 2025*

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## References

- [Lebanon and the IMF](http://www.imf.org/external/country/LBN/index.htm)
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- [PRESS CENTER](http://presscenter.imf.org/)
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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2025/03/13/pr25062-lebanon-imf-staff-concludes-visit_