Q&A: Mohammad Choucair

Kidnappings, blocked roads, robbed banks and travel warnings are among Lebanon’s latest upheavals. The country’s economy is feeling the pressure with stores and restaurants closing down, hotel occupancy rates plummeting and trading activity dwindling. The private sector is sounding the alarm. For a better understanding of the severity of the economic crisis, Executive sat with Mohammad Choucair, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (CCIA) of Beirut and Mount Lebanon. You have said that Lebanon is witnessing its worst economic crisis. What is leading you to such a gloomy observation? Lots of companies are closing down; just in Solidere, 254 stores shut down since the beginning of 2011, so imagine how many closed in Lebanon over this period. We are witnessing crimes for money with people killing each other to steal 100,000LL or 200,000LL. That’s how bad the situation is. Lebanon has never seen six banks get robbed