Q&A – Saad Andary

ENAR

The public sector’s support for entrepreneurship in Lebanon has largely been timid. One public institution that is trying to be active and encourage the country’s enterprising youth is Banque du Liban (BDL), Lebanon’s central bank. BDL has been organizing conferences and launched an online platform in 2011 dedicated to entrepreneurs, but it has failed to gain momentum so far. Saad Andary, vice-governor of Lebanon’s central bank, says BDL has not given up, however, as fostering young talent is essential for the local economy. Executive sat with Andary to discuss BDL’s support for Lebanese talent.  How will supporting entrepreneurs in Lebanon help spur the local economy? Lebanon is a mercantile economy and it cannot continue forever like this because we are shedding a lot of talent year in, year out, as we can’t find them jobs. I am trying to reinvent the economy. What we can do here is build on