President Joseph Aoun officially opened the “Smart Government: Diaspora Experts for Lebanon” conference today at the Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut. The event was organized by the Lebanese Executives Council in collaboration with the Lebanese American University (LAU), the Beirut Chamber of Commerce, Lebanese Business Councils in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, the Australian-New Zealand-Lebanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Lebanese Businessmen Association in France.
The opening was attended by several ministers and MPs including Ministers of Administrative Development Fadi Makki, Displaced and Technology Kamel Chahada, and Economy Amer Bassat. Also present were MPs Tony Frangieh, Ghada Ayoub, Elias Estphan, former ministers and MPs, and a large gathering of political, diplomatic, legal, economic, and tech professionals. The event kicked off with the Lebanese national anthem followed by welcoming words from journalist Rima Maktabi.
President Joseph Aoun: The Decision Has Been Made
President Aoun emphasized that digital transformation is no longer negotiable.
“I am here to say: we’ve made our decision. The time for excuses is over.”
He criticized ongoing delays in smart government implementation, saying it only serves to maintain corruption.
“E-services are delayed so citizen transactions remain at the mercy of bribery or political favoritism.”
He stressed that Lebanon has the talent and international recognition. What’s missing is execution.
“Let’s be honest. The only reason we don’t have smart governance is because some want to preserve the old, broken system.”
Aoun concluded by calling on all Lebanese especially experts from the diaspora to work hand in hand for real transformation.
“Digital governance is not a luxury, it’s our only way forward.”
Rabih El Amin: Not Just a Conference Title, But a Call to Action
Rabih El Amin, President of the Lebanese Executives Council, emphasized that the smart government initiative is a commitment to bringing together local leaders and global Lebanese experts.
“This is not just a conference title. It’s an act of faith. Digital transformation is not optional, it is essential for a prosperous future.”
He recalled that Lebanon has been talking about e-government since the year 2000, yet over 25 years later, the dream remains unfulfilled.
“We now speak of AI governance and smart cities, yet our dream still lingers in limbo. We must choose: pass down a dream or make it reality.”
Shawki Abdullah: Lebanon Needs Bold Action, Not Just Tech
LAU President Dr. Shawki Abdullah called for investment in education, continuous training, and research to drive Lebanon’s digital transformation. He referenced LAU CEO Sassine Ghazi, who warns that Lebanon is at “level zero” in AI, while the world is advancing fast.
Abdullah stressed that transformation isn’t just tech,it’s a cultural shift that redefines how citizens interact with the state. He emphasized Lebanon’s human talent but said the missing ingredient is political will.
