DECEMBER 2013

Rising above the gloom

Iran’s power dynamics – the old and the new
Khamenei has a new president and a new era to oversee

The lost year
2013 a failure for the Lebanese economy

Potholes in the road to extraction
Lebanon needs fast action to make the most of oil and gas in 2014

‘We couldn’t do anything in 2013’
Caretaker Minister of Economic Nicolas Nahas on his own impotence

The youth and the Arab Spring
Few prospects for the Middle East’s youth

Power to make a change
Politicians and economists are ready to move

Bridging troubled waters
Lebanese banks staying afloat despite difficulties

Bank of Beirut goes down under
Australia key target for expanding bank

Saad Azhari – Q&A
Chairman and general manager of Blom Bank

‘2014 will be the toughest yet for banks’
Francois Bassil, chairman of the Association of Banks in Lebanon, on the sector

Hadi Naffi — Q&A
Executive General Manager, Bank Misr Liban, on growth

Jean Riachi – Q&A
Chairman and CEO of FFA Private Bank

Banking on change
The deteriorating political and security situation has proved a wrench in the works of the banking sector in 2013

Start me up
Lebanon’s entrepreneurs remain confident despite challenging times

Lebanon’s top 20 entrepreneurs 2013
The country’s most exciting ventures

In need of nurture
Government deadlocks have left entrepreneurs on their own

Throw me a loan
Kafalat loans to most sectors fell in 2013

Fadi Ghandour – Q&A
Founder of Aramex and chairman of Wamda on regional entrepreneurs

Brave new worlds
Taking the first step onto Lebanon’s startup scene

Birthing businesses
Leaders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem see plenty of potential

Concrete ambition
Real estate slowing down but the stimulus and opportunities are still there

‘A new government could save real estate’
Massaad Fares, president of the Real Estate Association of Lebanon

Coping with the church
Some in the real estate sector quiet optimism going into 2014. Others are not quite so sure

Hospitality in inhospitable times
Lebanese tourism and hospitality sectors under immense pressure

Out of spirits
Beirut’s alcohol distributors see decrease in consumption in 2013

Rolling with the punches
It's been a year of "survival of the fittest" in the hospitality industry

Dressing down
Lack of purchasing power makes a bad year for retail

Nicolas Chammas
Head of the Beirut Traders’ Association makes a plea to politicians

Back in the black
Gains in the industrial sector keep Lebanon afloat

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

Stasis and conflict
Lebanese industry has become accustomed to coping with the effects of war and political inertia

Grapes of worth
Lebanese wine industry rapidly gaining recognition

Who's who in Lebanese wine
A toast to the early pioneers and new innovators

Heard it on the grapevine
After a 2013 which saw the creation of the national wine institute industry insiders are optimistic about the future

A big market for small cars
Buyers take advantage of good deals on compact cars

Wild for wheelies
Motorbike dealers respond to rising demand

Samir Homsi
President of the automobile importers association

Gearing up in a stalling market
Market insiders reflect on a tough year and what the future holds for the automotive industry

Covered in stormy weather
Medical premiums up hospital costs rise

Considerable coverage
Lebanese insurers intent on tangible improvements

Strokes of brilliance
The Lebanese art scene looks resilient as 2014 looms

Back to the drawing board
Zeina Assi used to work in advertising, now she is one of Lebanon’s hottest artistic talents

Along the fault lines
2013 was a year of worrying violence in Lebanon