Washington d.c.: Finance Minister Yassin Jaber and the official Lebanese delegation concluded their meetings in Washington D.C., on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

According to National News Agency - Lebanon, these meetings included a series of discussions with senior officials from the IMF and the World Bank, as well as with other donor countries. Discussions focused primarily on ways to support Lebanon financially and economically under the current circumstances, in addition to following up on reform and recovery priorities.

Jaber said that "talks centered on the economic and financial developments in Lebanon, and the importance of continuing the constructive dialogue between Lebanon, the IMF and the World Bank, in addition to discussing the priorities of the next stage and the reforms required to enhance stability and restore confidence."

He described the meetings as "positive and constructive" and emphasized the commitment of the World Bank and all the parties the delegation met to continue supporting Lebanon at this critical stage, not only through existing projects, but also by keeping pace with the priorities of the Lebanese state along its path of recovery and reconstruction.

Jaber stressed "the importance of prioritizing the current portfolio of World Bank-funded projects, which exceeds US$1.3 billion, and working to direct them in line with emerging needs, particularly those related to the rehabilitation of infrastructure and basic services and the strengthening of social resilience." He also underlined the need to provide additional funding in the form of grants to support affected Lebanese communities, giving special priority to the housing sector due to its urgency in the post-war phase and its essential role in supporting social and economic stability.

"Lebanon looks forward to a renewed partnership with the World Bank, based on flexibility and rapid response, taking into account the magnitude of the economic, humanitarian and developmental challenges that Lebanon currently faces, where the main objective is to mobilize support for the country to respond to the urgent needs to enhance economic and social stability, and move forward on the path of recovery," Jaber concluded.