Lebanon

Political relations

France is one of Lebanon’s main political partners, as shown by the density of political bilateral relations between the two countries and our constant support at the UN for the resolutions to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty. France supports the stability, unity, independence and sovereignty of Lebanon. France pays particular attention to strengthening the institutions of the Lebanese State in order to support its authority across Lebanon.

France is also committed to supporting the hopes expressed by the Lebanese people for reforms and governance.

Economic relations

In 2018, France was the seventh-largest supplier to Lebanon with 3.38% of market share, behind China, Greece, Italy, the United States, Germany and Turkey.

In 2018, France’s experts to Lebanon totalled €748 million and imports to France from Lebanon totalled €54 million giving a trade surplus of €694 million. The number of French businesses exporting to Lebanon has increased from 4,558 in 2016 to 4,707 in 2017, and has increased by over 15% since 2007.

French direct investment stock in Lebanon totalled €612 million in 2017 up from €295 million in 2010. Lebanese investment stock in France has been increasing in recent years and totalled nearly €3 billion in late 2017.

Almost 100 French companies are present in Lebanon, in a variety of sectors including agri-food, telecommunications, retail, the oil industry and financial services.