After years of economic collapse and mass emigration, the Lebanese government has announced a new strategy centered on technology and digital transformation to rebuild the country and bring back its talent. Speaking at Gitex Global, Lebanon’s Minister of Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Kamal Shehadi, outlined a vision for a digitally enabled, investor-friendly nation designed to incentivize the return of Lebanese expatriates.
A Vision For Digital Transformation
The cornerstone of Lebanon’s recovery strategy is a technology-led transformation aimed at creating a modern, efficient state. The plan seeks to streamline government services, eliminate middlemen, and establish a digital government powered by private-sector investment and expertise. Minister Shehadi, a former executive at UAE-based e&, stated that the goal is to leapfrog outdated systems by building new fibre optic networks, rolling out 5G, and integrating AI into the national framework. “AI is not a national industry, AI is a global industry and we are set to be part of it,” Shehadi remarked.
Courting Investment With New PPP Laws
To fund this ambitious overhaul, Lebanon is actively courting external capital. A key component of this effort is the amendment of its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) laws, which Shehadi described as now being “very investor-friendly.” The government’s approach relies on attracting private investment to build and manage the country’s new digital infrastructure, signalling a significant shift towards a more open and collaborative economic model. This move is designed to create a stable and predictable environment for VCs and international companies looking to participate in the nation’s reconstruction.
Turning Brain Drain Into Brain Gain
A critical objective of the new strategy is to reverse the country’s devastating brain drain. With an estimated 150,000 Lebanese expatriates in the UAE alone and thousands more across the GCC, the government aims to tap into this vast pool of skilled professionals. Minister Shehadi highlighted the diaspora’s willingness to contribute, noting a recent meeting with 50 Lebanese tech leaders in the UAE. “I met 50 Lebanese tech leaders this morning, all raising their hands, eager to help,” he said. “This is how we turn brain drain into brain gain.”
About Lebanon’s Digital Transformation Initiative
Lebanon’s Digital Transformation Initiative is a government-led strategy aimed at revitalizing the nation’s economy through technology. The plan focuses on digitizing public services, upgrading national infrastructure with private capital through investor-friendly Public-Private Partnership (PPP) laws, and engaging the global Lebanese diaspora to reverse brain drain and harness local talent for national rebuilding.
Source: AGBI
