The inaugural Euromoney Lebanon Conference, supported by the Banque du Liban and the Capital Markets Authority kicked off today on a high note with an array of exciting international and local speakers. The theme of the conference was Finance and Technology: Partners for Growth.
The conference was attended by more than 300 experts from finance, investment, government, regulatory organisations, businesses and members of the press.
The opening keynote speech was delivered by HE Mr Riad Salamé, Governor of Banque du Liban (attached full quote).
This was followed by a keynote speech from Professor Jassem Ajaka from the Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade and live interviews on stage with key financiers: Saad Azhari, chairman and general manager of BLOM Bank and Freddie Baz, board member and group strategy director of Bank Audi. Commenting on the occasion, Professor Ajaka said, "The Ministry of Economy and Trade, backed up by the Lebanese government, is increasingly supporting investments in sectors that use technology as its main work element due to the great potential and promising growth that lies in store for them and further invites investors to invest due to the high rate of return."
In the first afternoon session, the Digital Debate asked an important question - how can technology be a real game changer in Lebanon? Using a live twitter wall, poll results and questions from the audience, Richard Banks, consulting editor of Euromoney Conferences was joined by Henri Asseily, managing partner of Leap Ventures, the first growth stage venture capital firm in Lebanon and the MENA region and British Ambassador to Lebanon H.E. Mr Tom Fletcher. This month Ambassador Fletcher and Governor Salamé opened the UK Lebanon Tech Hub, an initiative between the UK Government and the Lebanese Central Bank. It will work actively to promote Lebanese start-ups and entrepreneurs, creating links between London and Beirut.
The afternoon panel discussions examined the life cycle of tech companies from early stage funding and development, to growth and scalability and finally exiting and the role capital markets play.
The Euromoney Lebanon Conference is supported by the Banque du Liban and the Capital Markets Authority. Lead sponsors are Bank Audi and Blom Bank. Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm is the strategic partner. BankMed, MEVP and the EuroMena Funds are supporting organisations.
