Figures issued by the Arab Investment and Export & Guarantee Corporation (AIEGC) show that foreign direct investment (FDI) in Lebanon totaled $4.8bn in 2009, constituting an increase of 33% from $3.61bn in 2008.
FDI inflows to Lebanon totaled $2.73bn in 2007 and $2.68bn in 2006. Also, FDI inflows to Lebanon came above the $4.48bn in average FDI inflows per Arab country in 2009. Lebanon was the fifth largest recipient of FDI in nominal terms among 18 Arab countries in 2009 and the 7th largest recipient in 2008. Also, Lebanon posted the fourth highest growth rate in FDI among Arab countries and the highest rate among the top 5 recipients of FDI last year, and was one of 7 Arab economies that saw an increase in FDI in 2009. In contrast, aggregate FDI to Arab economies declined by 15% year-on-year, global FDI declined by 38.7%, FDI to developing economies contracted by 34.7%, and FDI in West Asia decreased by 43.2% in 2009. FDI inflows to Lebanon accounted for 6% of total FDI in Arab countries compared to 3.8% of aggregate inflows in 2008. They also represented 9.4% of total flows to the 13 countries that form West Asia relative to 4% in 2008. FDI inflows to Lebanon accounted for 1.2% of FDI inflows to developing countries and for 0.5% of global foreign direct investment in 2009, compared to 0.6% of FDI inflows to developing countries and for 0.21% of global FDI in 2008.
Further, FDI inflows to Lebanon were equivalent to 14.3% of GDP in 2009, highest in the Arab world, and ahead of Jordan with 10.4% of GDP, Qatar with 10.4% of GDP, and Djibouti with 9.9% of GDP. Also, Lebanons FDI as a percentage of GDP increased from 12.2% in 2008, the second highest increase among Arab countries after Qatar. In parallel, aggregate FDI to Lebanon reached $21bn during the 1999-2008 period, accounting for 5.8% of total FDI in the Arab world and making it the fourth biggest Arab recipient of FDI during the covered period. FDI inflows to Lebanon represented 0.6% of FDI to developing economies and 0.2% of global FDI inflows in the 1999-2008 period. Further, FDI outflows from Lebanon totaled $5.1bn during the 1999-2008 period, accounting for 3.7% of such outflows from the Arab world and making it the 7th biggest Arab source of FDI during the covered period. As a result, net FDI to Lebanon reached $16bn and averaged $1.6bn per year during the covered period.
Lebanon This Week Byblos Bank
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