The International Finance Corporation (IFC) issued on November 20, 2025 a press release in which it announced five new investments and engagements in Lebanon to widen access to finance and energy, assist with the growth of the manufacturing sector, and create jobs across the country. According to the press release, said initiatives were announced in the presence of the Lebanese Prime Minister H.E. Nawaf Salam on the sidelines of the “Beirut One” investor conference, which took place on November 18 and 19. The press release revealed that Mr. Aftab Ahmed, the IFC’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, stated that Lebanon is at a “critical juncture”, and the private sector lies in the center of the country’s recovery journey. In addition, Mr. Ahmed noted that the IFC’s new engagements with Lebanon are geared to fuel private sector development and promote a sustainable, inclusive recovery as well as create direly needed jobs.

The press release noted that the IFC’s new initiatives would cater to achieve the following objectives:

1-    Expand Access to Reliable Energy: The IFC, in close coordination with the WBG’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will serve as the main transaction advisor to the Government of Lebanon, collaborating with the High Council for Privatization and PPPs as well as the Ministry of Energy and Water to promote effective power generation by structuring and implementing a “gas-to-power” project under the umbrella of a PPP model. The press release added that said agreement would support the development of a “floating storage and regasification unit” in order to import, store, and convert liquefied natural gas into fuel. The agreement would also modernize the 465-megawatt Deir Ammar I power plant as well as construct a new 825-megawatt combined-cycle gas turbine plant (Deir Ammar II). Upon completion, these projects would increase access to reliable electricity, help with transitioning Lebanon to more renewable energy, increase the efficiency of Lebanon’s electricity sector, decrease the country’s reliance on diesel, and reduce the cost of electricity generation.

2-    Support Financial Inclusion: The press release stated that the IFC is providing a $10 million financing package equally divided between the Lebanese Association for Development (Al Majmoua) and Vitas Lebanon (part of Vitas Group). The objective of said financing is to expand access to finance to Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and women entrepreneurs while focusing on the forcibly displaced individuals and host communities. It will also aid in preserving and creating jobs while supporting Lebanon’s long-term recovery and development plans. More specifically, the press release revealed that the financing package includes a first-loss guarantee of up to $5 million provided through a blended finance facility under the “Prospects Partnership” (or PROSPECTS; a program managed by the Government of the Netherlands), the aim of which is to ameliorate access to education, social protection, and decent employment for host communities and forcibly displaced population across East Africa and the Middle East. The press release commented that said investments align with the ongoing efforts produced by the Ministry of Social Affairs to promote economic inclusion amongst vulnerable populations by means of its national programs.

3-    Promote Sustainable Manufacturing: The IFC, in partnership with BCI Holding S.A. (BCI), will provide a loan of up to $40 million to assist the company’s expansion in Lebanon and across the Middle East. The funds would allow BCI (the leading regional producer of polyester polyols, polyurethane systems, flexible packaging, and special adhesives) to promote job creation and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development. Furthermore, the press release added that BCI would establish an R&D and innovation center in Lebanon as well as develop a back-office operations hub to improve its regional capabilities. BCI will assist SMEs in improving quality, reducing waste, and enhance competitiveness through its tailor-made chemical formulations, special adhesives, and technical support.

4-    Boost Industrial Development: The IFC, in partnership with Matelec (a leading regional manufacturer of power-machinery & electrical infrastructure solutions headquartered in Lebanon), will invest up to $30 million to assist the company’s future infrastructure projects in Lebanon and MENA region. Said partnership, would strengthen Matelec’s contribution to industrial development and job creation, while simultaneously improving the availability of high-quality electrical infrastructure solutions for municipal and industrial sectors across local and international markets.