Italian PM says ready to invest in Lebanon

BEIRUT– Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Thursday that Italy is ready to invest in Lebanon and Italian companies are willing to offer their expertise to their Lebanese counterparts, local TV Channel MTV reported. 
"We agreed to organize a visit for Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to Italy to encourage Italian companies to invest in development projects in Lebanon," Conte said at a joint press conference with Hariri at Beirut's Grand Serail. 
Conte arrived Thursday morning in Lebanon for an official visit. He was received by Hariri in an official ceremony at the Grand Serail. 

Conte said that Italy will continue to support Lebanon on all levels. 
Meanwhile, Hariri said Italian companies are active in fields such as oil and gas and electricity. 
"We want to encourage these companies to come and explore investment opportunities in Lebanon," he said. 
Hariri added that Lebanon is about to implement numerous infrastructure projects under the framework of CEDRE in which Italian companies can have a stake. 

The CEDRE is an international conference in support of Lebanon's development and reforms. Lebanon secured over 11 billion dollars in soft loans and grants from international donors at CEDRE. 

Hariri also expressed his gratitude for Italy for always standing beside Lebanon while providing humanitarian and military assistance. 

Later in the day, the Italian prime minister will meet with Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and visit Italy's UNIFIL (the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon) contingent. Enditem