The Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Port of Beirut Mr. Omar Itani hosted on September 30, 2025 the French Business Confederation (MEDEF) delegation. The MEDEF team was headed by Mr. Gérard Wolf, who was accompanied by the General Manager of Merit Invest S.A.L. (Group CMA CGM) Mr. Joe Dakkak, and the General Manager of the Container Terminal of the Beirut port Mr. Charley Derzi. Mr. Itani highlighted the progress achieved by the Port of Beirut on the global scale as the port ranked 54^th in the Container Performance Index in 2024, advancing 27 positions from the 81^st rank it held in 2023, noting that it occupied the 323^rd place in 2022.

Furthermore, Mr. Itani explained to the delegation the most important pillars of Port of Beirut’s master plan, highlighting that said plan aims to rehabilitate the maritime and land environment to comply with the best international standards. More specifically, the plan aims to organize internal traffic within the port and its entrances, construct a new main entrance (Gate number 9), restore and rehabilitate sidewalks, improve the depth of basin number 3, clean basin number 4, redistribute storage yards with dedicated areas for the RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off) zone, create passenger stations, dedicate a space to install solar energy stations to support sustainable operations at the port, as well as develop commercial and recreational spaces on the waterfront that would enhance the economic and tourism role of the port.

Mr. Itani added that the port administration has completed the tender specifications booklet of the execution phase of the master plan and in coordination with French international experts and with the support of the French government. Finally, Mr. Dakkak commented that the Beirut port scanners are in the execution phase, highlighting that CMA is closely coordinating with the port of Beirut director to complete projects in the pipeline, which would improve port operations and enhance the port’s operational readiness.