Middle East Focus: Investments: Betting on Stability in Lebanon……….

Arabia Deserta

Investments: Betting on Stability in Lebanon……….

“The UNCTAD reports that direct foreign investment in Lebanon grew by 32% during 2008 to reach US$ 3.6 billion, with most of it in the Real Estate sector, and that 90% of it was Arab investments. Saudi Arabia was the source of 70% of Arab investments, followed by Kuwait at 22%......Foreign investments in Iraq reached only US$ 488 million and in the Palestinian Territories US$ 29 million......”

I wonder if these sums include the reported hundreds of millions of dollars that went into Lebanon to support candidates of both sides during the last election. It is possible some of these 'investment' moneys were part of 'sweet deals' to benefit certain Lebanese factions, and not necessarily based on "investment" criteria. And do the real estate funds include the money from Iran and Arab sources that was allotted for rebuilding the Southern Suburb of Beirut that was bombed to kingdom-come in July 2006?

I see the combined effects of the West Bank’s reputation for kleptocracy rule, not to mention all those Israeli restrictions and checkpoints, not to mention the non-too-friendly Hamas rule of Gaza. As for Iraq.....
Cheers
mhg
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