IMF report recommends fiscal and financial reforms. Boosting public and private investments is needed

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a report titled 'Investment and Growth in the Arab World - A Scoping Note'.

The report highlighted the importance of boosting public and private investment to spur economic growth and create new job opportunities. Private investment and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Arab countries was below that of their international peers and failed to significantly fuel economic growth.

The report provided several recommendations for Leb...

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Food trade relies heavily on imports. 170,000 people slip to poverty line due to Syrian crisis

Up to 80 percent of the market's food needs are imported, according to ESCWA's 'Strategic Review of Food and Nutrition Security in Lebanon' report, released this month.

Food accounts for 16 percent of the total import bill, second only to fuel. Consumed food items are distributed as follows: 35 percent for bread and cereals, 11 percent for milk and dairy, eight percent for meat and poultry, and 46 percent for other food products.

The food items for which the market is completely de...

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Corruption getting worse says watchdog group. Transparency International: Ordinary people can make a difference

Lebanon stands out in the MENA region as having the most negative corruption ratings, according to citizens who have been surveyed as part of a report published last week by Transparency International, under the title 'People and Corruption: Middle East & North Africa Survey 2016.'

People are particularly likely to think that corruption has risen, as 92 percent of the surveyed say that they think it has increased in the past year. It is the highest percentage compared to the other surveye...

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