Home DECEMBER 2011

DECEMBER 2011

by reeda

DECEMBER 2011

 

EDITORIAL





COMMENT



A myriad of moving pieces
2012 will be ‘interesting’ to say the least






Banking on diplomacy
Arab uprisings have hit regional banks






Nothing left to offer
Lebanese silence contrasts with Arab uprisings






Bludgeoning Syria’s economy
The ongoing uprising has crippled business






Palestine’s resurgent authority
The PA has improved its bargaining power over Israel






Juggling discontent in Jordan
The Hashemite kingdom may appear calm, but opposition remains






The year since Mubarak
One year on from the dictator’s fall, the revolution continues






Yemen turns a page
The future is uncertain but at least things are changing




ECONOMICS & POLICY



Castles made of sand
A failing economy threatens to leave future generations stranded






Q&A: Mohamad Safadi
Lebanon’s finance minister talks growth, gas supply, and budgets






Energy short of solutions
The clock ticks as the nation awaits action






Plugging the gaps
Funding disputes drain Lebanon’s supply of the elixir of life






Theory of evolution
Growing pains abound, but Lebanon’s telecoms sector slowly comes of age








BANKING & FINANCE



Performance of Lebanese banks in 2011
Insight into the health of the Lebanese banking sector after a roller coaster 2011






Lebanese securities performance 2011
Analysis of Lebanon’s buffeted stock exchange






A bumpy ride
Outdated laws and haphazard infrastructure hamper developments in the insurance sector






Where to invest in 2012
Financial whizzes offer their best investment advice






Banking Talk
Choice quotes from the big guns of the banking world










Executive Insight – The foray into frontier markets and emerging economies
Emerging markets, less correlated to the ups and downs of the global economy, may be one way to diversify a portfolio






Markets review
An overview of the region’s markets since January




REAL ESTATE & DEVELOPMENT



Back to basics
As the luxury market falters, developers turn their guns to the middle class






Golden shores
Developers take to the coast






Business talk
What is on the minds of industry leaders?






Executive Insight – European investors look to Lebanese real estate
European economic woes are driving investors to look to Lebanon




TOURISM



Sun goes down on a destination
Regional unrest and local instability put an end to Lebanon’s touristic resurgence






Fadi Abboud
Talking tough on tourism and how Lebanon falls short




AUTOMOTIVE



Mixed fortunes
The industry’s players have been dealt differing hands in a year of duress






Fast rides on rocky terrain
Caution and fear hold back sales of luxury cars






Beating the hordes
With much of the country stuck in a jam motorbikes are looking more attractive




INDUSTRY & MANUFACTURING



Lacking a spark
Corruption and instability stymie Lebanon’s industrial sector






Q&A – Vrej Sabounjian
Industry’s man in government reflects on his first six months






A name you can trust
The challenges of marketing Lebanon to the world




ENVIRONMENT



Clearing the smoke
After years in the dark, a new report on Lebanon’s environment forges a path for progress






Q&A – Nazem Khoury
Grand plans on a shoe-string budget




ENTREPRENEURSHIP



Sources of inspiration
Executive takes a look at three of the most dynamic ventures of the year from a young cadre of Lebanese entrepreneurs who achieved breakthroughs in a volatile 2011






Q&A – Tarek Sadi
Giving entrepreneurs a springboard to success




RETAIL



Deck the halls with bling and baubles
Lebanon’s love affair with luxury retail endures






Q&A – Nicolas Chammas
Striving to stay a showcase for the Arab world




LAST WORD



Stagnating in stability
No revolution, no progress in Lebanon