Beirut: Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday visited the Economic, Social and Environmental Council at the invitation of its President, Charles Arbid, where he met with heads of economic bodies, professional syndicates, the General Labor Union, council members, and civil society representatives. In a comprehensive keynote address, Salam presented the government's roadmap for recovery, highlighting four strategic pillars: political stability, economic and financial reform, institutional governance, and reconstruction.
According to National news agency - Lebanon, Salam described the council as a vital national forum for dialogue and a critical advisory body that reflects society's pulse, noting its wide representative structure spanning key sectors such as education, health, labor, industry, commerce, tourism, and banking. Salam acknowledged Lebanon's unprecedented multi-layered crisis over the past five years-including currency collapse, banking sector failure, and the Beirut Port explosion-while reaffirming that recovery cannot happen without structural reforms and national unity.
On the security front, Salam emphasized the need to implement UN Resolution 1701 and regain full sovereignty over Lebanese territory, stating that arms must be under state authority alone. He noted tightened security measures at Beirut Airport and growing cooperation with Syria to control borders and facilitate refugee return. Economically, Salam stressed the urgency of modernizing Lebanon's financial system. He highlighted laws passed to lift banking secrecy and restructure the banking sector and pledged to finalize legislation to fairly distribute financial losses and recover deposits.
Salam also stressed the importance of reviving credit activity, attracting investments, and preparing for a fall investment conference. A special focus was given to regional reintegration, with Salam citing recent visits to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Syria, and participation in the Arab Summit. Institutional reforms featured prominently, with the Prime Minister announcing efforts to digitize public services, eliminate political favoritism, restore judicial independence, and make merit-based civil service appointments. He cited recent appointments to the Council for Development and Reconstruction and upcoming nominations to regulatory authorities.
Regarding reconstruction, Salam revealed that Lebanon secured a $250 million loan from the World Bank for immediate post-war recovery and is coordinating with UN agencies to implement over $350 million in projects in southern Lebanon. He also announced plans for an international donor conference in the coming months. Concluding his address, Salam called for a 'national partnership based on responsibility,' stressing that no government can succeed alone. He urged the council to serve as a living platform for constructive engagement between the state and society.
'Our work will only succeed with your participation-and your accountability,' Salam said. 'Let us restore Lebanese citizens' faith in their state and reaffirm the true meaning of a functioning republic.' In his address, Economic, Social and Environmental Council President, Charles Arbid, welcomed Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, recalling his long-standing engagement with the council and Lebanon's broader public service.
Arbid noted that the institution has since evolved, acquiring a unique identity and playing a vital role in bridging citizens' aspirations with national policymaking. He emphasized the council's contribution as a platform for expert-driven dialogue and policy formulation, urging for greater state support and administrative resources. Arbid stressed the need for urgent socio-economic reforms, particularly in education, fair wages, and deposit recovery to restore public trust and national stability. He also called for investing in Lebanon's technological potential and shaping a global identity through the 'Branding Lebanon' initiative.
Underscoring that sustainable recovery hinges on both domestic capacity and international cooperation, Arbid concluded by affirming the council's readiness to support the Prime Minister's reform vision and help steer Lebanon toward growth, fairness, and renewed global relevance.