The Ministry of Finance recently released a statement highlighting that it has resumed talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in an endeavor to attain an agreement over an economic recovery program that could also gather support from the international financial community. The statement echoed the newly formed government’s dedication to relaunch said talks in a prompt manner whereby it recently formed a team that will be handling the negotiations. The team will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Saade Chami and will also include the Minister of Finance Dr. Youssef El Khalil, the Minister of Economy and Trade Mr. Amin Salam and the Central Bank Governor Mr. Riad Salameh. The statement reiterated the government’s awareness of the critical economic and financial situation Lebanon is facing, and its commitment to launch a constructive, transparent and equitable debt restructuring process with its various stakeholders. It is worth noting, that upon his appointment, Dr. Youssef El Khalil commented that the IMF program would be crucial to putting Lebanon on a recovery path, and that the funding agreement will warrant that the recovery will be accompanied by the enactment of overdue reforms that will assist in restoring trust in the Lebanese economy.