Lebanon’s Mikati Expresses Hope of IMF Accord in Weeks

Lebanon's Prime Minister-Designate Najib Mikati speaks after meeting with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun, at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon August 16, 2021. (Dalati Nohra)
Lebanon's Prime Minister-Designate Najib Mikati speaks after meeting with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun, at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon August 16, 2021. (Dalati Nohra)
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Lebanon’s Mikati Expresses Hope of IMF Accord in Weeks

Lebanon's Prime Minister-Designate Najib Mikati speaks after meeting with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun, at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon August 16, 2021. (Dalati Nohra)
Lebanon's Prime Minister-Designate Najib Mikati speaks after meeting with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun, at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon August 16, 2021. (Dalati Nohra)

A delegation from the International Monetary Fund will start talks in Lebanon on March 29, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Saturday, expressing hope of a deal in the coming weeks.

"Next Tuesday they will start their mission in Lebanon," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Doha Forum in Qatar.

"Hopefully ... by the end of two weeks we will see the light," Mikati said.

The Lebanese pound has lost more than 90% of its value since 2019, when the financial system collapsed, plunging the majority of Lebanese into poverty, according to UN agencies.

Reforms demanded by donors to provide assistance to Lebanon include steps to tackle widespread corruption, tax dodging and government deficits - the root causes of the meltdown.

"We don't have an option, it is an obligatory path to negotiate with the IMF and to achieve an agreement," he added.



Alswaha: Saudi Arabia's Participation at WEF Strengthens Global Efforts in AI Technologies

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha. SPA file photo
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha. SPA file photo
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Alswaha: Saudi Arabia's Participation at WEF Strengthens Global Efforts in AI Technologies

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha. SPA file photo
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha. SPA file photo

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha has underlined the Kingdom's pivotal role in driving the global agenda to enhance the digital economy, foster innovation, and leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to serve humanity and protect the planet.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), he highlighted that the Kingdom's international standing is a result of the support and guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The minister explained that Saudi Arabia's participation in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, held from January 20 to 24, comes at a time when the world is transitioning from the digital age to the AI age.

This underscores the Kingdom's significant role in leading global efforts to promote innovation and utilize AI for the benefit of humanity.

He noted that the annual high-profile gathering provides a global platform to showcase the Kingdom's developmental, economic, and technological achievements under the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, made possible by the support of the Kingdom's leadership.

Alswaha said that Saudi Arabia is working in partnership with the international community to harness AI as a key tool for advancing sustainable development and achieving global goals, adding that these efforts aim to improve quality of life, support the digital economy, and create new job opportunities across various sectors, contributing to a sustainable and prosperous future for all.