Beirut Mayor Jamal Itani offers two words when asked about his vision for city spending: “investment projects.” During a brief interview in late July, Itani explained a variety of the city council’s plans, from making Beirut more pedestrian-friendly to balancing private and public interests along the city’s contentious coast. E What is the city’s financial situation? When we took over [on June 1, 2016], we got a statement from the central bank [Banque du Liban] saying that, in the account, there’s in the range of $495 million. E Most will be spent on…? Investment projects, [for example the council recently decided to redevelop a plot of land in Medawr] plot 385 is a big plot owned by the municipality. Part of the land is occupied by the municipality, part leased to different entities, and the purpose is to redevelop this piece of property. It’s approximately 80,000 square meters
Matt was Executive's Economics & Policy Editor and Real Estate Editor from May 2014 to November 2017. He began reporting in Lebanon in April 2007, and his coverage focused on oil and gas, public policy and human rights.
