Recommendations for the strategy of financial inclusion of micro and small businesses in Lebanon

The MEDSt@rts project started to support young innovative entrepreneurs pitch their new business ideas, and then get the needed business development and access to finance to launch their own businesses. In that regard, the Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture in Sidon and South Lebanon (CCIAS) launched the microfinance and Business Development Services (BDS) forum that engaged Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), BDS providers, bankers and experts in the economic development eco-system, to provide a series of discussions about financial inclusion, business development role, legal and regulatory issues, and the way forward to help MSMEs and youth start-ups succeed as a pre requisite towards the universal sustainability development goals. The document below, which illustrates recommendations for the strategy of financial inclusion of micro and small businesses in Lebanon, contains a summary of the 12 days presentations and discussion that took place among the forum participants.