WASHINGTON, Feb 19 - Lebanon's economy has demonstrated resilience despite regional conflicts, and recent activity in the tourism sector linked to the country's diaspora has supported a limited rebound, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday.
In a briefing, IMF spokeswoman Julie Kozack said the institution remains actively engaged in complex negotiations with Lebanese officials after those authorities requested consideration of an IMF-supported program in March 2025. The IMF also dispatched a staff mission to Beirut earlier this month to advance those discussions.
Kozack said the dialogue between the Fund and Lebanon has centered on two principal challenges. First is the need to restructure the banking sector. Second is the establishment of a medium-term fiscal strategy to guide policy. Both elements, she said, are central to any credible program that could underpin a sustained economic recovery.
"The economy has shown resilience despite the impact of conflicts in the region. It has had a bit of a rebound on the back of tourism from the strong diaspora," Kozack said in describing recent developments. But she cautioned that this improvement is limited in scope and that deeper measures are required to revive durable growth.
According to Kozack, restoring strong and sustainable growth will require an integrated set of reforms designed to address long-standing structural weaknesses that have weighed on Lebanon's economic performance for many years. Those weaknesses must be tackled comprehensively rather than piecemeal, she said, to create the conditions for recovery.
Reforms are also necessary to secure international assistance that could support Lebanon's significant reconstruction needs. Kozack emphasized that external support will be harder to mobilize without clear domestic policy changes and credible frameworks in place.
Specifically, Kozack called for an updated medium-term fiscal framework that includes concrete measures to generate additional revenue for essential capital spending. In addition, she said a sovereign debt restructuring will be required to restore debt sustainability, which is an essential condition for returning to market access and unlocking external support.
Implications
- Banking sector restructuring and fiscal consolidation are focal points of IMF-Lebanon talks.
- Tourism tied to the diaspora has provided a limited economic lift but is insufficient alone to drive sustained growth.
- Debt restructuring and a credible medium-term fiscal plan are prerequisites for attracting international reconstruction assistance.