Beirut:Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi participated in a dialogue session held by the Civic Influence Forum at its headquarters in downtown Beirut. The session brought together academic, economic, and administrative figures to discuss structural reforms and governance challenges in Lebanon's energy and water sectors.
According to National news agency - Lebanon, the session opened with forum board member Engineer Elie Jebrayel emphasizing the importance of responsible dialogue between state institutions and civil society. He described the reform of the energy and water sectors as a critical test of the state's ability to restore institutional effectiveness and accountability. Jebrayel highlighted that the crises in these sectors extend beyond technical and financial challenges to include governance, institutional independence, transparency, and the protection of national resources.
Forum Executive Director Ziad El Sayegh addressed the transition from crisis management to sustainable reform. He discussed the need for strengthening regulatory independence, securing investments, expanding renewable energy, and ensuring equitable access to services. Minister Saddi outlined the structural, financial, and institutional challenges in both sectors, presenting reform priorities to improve governance, ensure service sustainability, and safeguard national resources.
The forum's statement indicated that discussions also focused on legislative and regulatory priorities, institutional restructuring, oversight mechanisms, and the balancing of economic viability with social justice. Participants stressed the necessity of replacing short-term responses with measurable, accountable public policies. They advocated integrating energy and water reforms into broader efforts to strengthen state institutions, reinforce national security, and restore public confidence.
This session is part of the forum's specialized dialogue initiative, which aims to promote policy-based discussions, institutional accountability, and constructive engagement between government and civil society.
