SDG 9

Lebanon’s economy is based on open trade and trans-border connectivity and the country’s physical infrastructure was designed to achieve this. However, following a series of shocks and persistent fiscal constraints, the gap between infrastructure supply and demand has widened and needs have changed. The impact of the Syrian crisis was reflected in as a significant decline in the Lebanese industrial sector. Border closures have restricted trade with Syria and neighboring countries and caused a drastic decline in industrial exports to neighboring countries. 

The industrial sector faces multiple obstacles to its development, but has promising potential, particularly once Lebanon embarks on the infrastructure investment program planned for in the Vision for Stabilization, Growth and Employment. 

The CNRS-L works closely with UN agencies on an innovation technology programme. It is one of the four main partners of the LIRA programme. The CNRS-L has also released the ‘Science, Technology and Innovation Policy’ (STIP) a policy on science, technology and innovation that links socioeconomic needs with qualified human resources available in Lebanon. 

Lebanon remains one of only a few countries where the telecommunication sector is fully owned by the government. The sector is a main source of government revenue. The government intends to develop and adopt a telecom policy aimed at liberalizing the sector and opening it up further to private sector investment and utilization.