Lebanon

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and European Union (EU) launched the Advice for Small Businesses (ASB) Programme to support SMEs in Lebanon. The programme will help foster private sector growth, job creation, innovation, competitiveness, and increase SMEs’ access to finance. 

According to the article, SMEs in Lebanon comprise over 90 percent of the private sector and support the economy in a substantial way. EBRD and EU’s programme will connect SMEs with local and international consultants and offer a variety of business advice. 

Société Générale de Banque au Liban (SGBL) will receive $100 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to help export and import activity and on-lending for SMEs.

According to the article, a $50-million credit line will support medium-term funding for SMEs and provide regional outreach. In addition, the funds will support a $50 million trade facility to SGBL under the EBRD’s Trade Facilitation Program (TFP).

Maya Margie Younes is the Head of Marketing at BLC Bank with 20 years’ experience in the banking sector. Before moving her focus to BLC, she had spent several years at American Express Bank, involved in various roles such as business development, strategy and risk management. She played a pivotal role in the strategy and implementation of the Women’s Empowerment program encompassed by the We Initiative focused on gender equality at BLC.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the US-based World Bank Group, and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the international development arms of the French government, recently launched a Middle East and North Africa (MENA) SME Risk Sharing Facility, through which the organizations will guarantee loans for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), 20 percent of which are to be issued to enterprises owned and operated by women.

This presentation goes over the following points:
Existing Lebanese Legal Framework
Advantages of passing a new law on secured lending
Issues and challenges
Steps taken to face issues and challenges
Actions to be taken

We Initiative is the first and only program dedicated to the economic empowerment of women in the MENA Region. Is has two main objectives: becoming the Bank of Reference and
the Employer Of Choice for Women through financial and non-financial products and services.

This presentation was given during a conference jointly organized by The Arab Monetary Fund and IFC on “Building a High Performance Small Medium Enterprise Business in the Arab World” on 7-8 May 2013 in Dubai, UAE

IFC is working with BLC Bank to improve access to finance and support the growth of women-owned businesses in Lebanon.

With IFC support, BLC Bank launched the WE (Women’s Empowerment) Initiative, offering a range of services tailored to women-owned businesses. This initiative makes it easier for these businesses to access the capital they need to expand, creating jobs and spurring economic development in Lebanon.