Hadi Naffi — Q&A

Hadi Naffi is the executive general manager of Banque Misr Liban (BML). Naffi sits with Executive to talk about strategies for a small bank to remain competitive in the Lebanese market, and the impact of turmoil in Egypt. Tell us about the performance of the bank in 2013. Our deposits increased by over 12 percent in the first 10 months of the year. Our advances to the private sector, the credits to the clientele increased 16-17 percent. The situation is healthy, the situation is good for now. We are making profits but we are not making as big profits as we could have expected in a flourishing economic situation, that’s all. The times are tough, we are fighting, we are working hard, but our numbers are good. We have witnessed a serious development of our bank. In Lebanon there are five large banks that alone dominate 60-65 percent of the