Fiscal Year 2025
Capacity Development Activities
Revenue Administration
Training on Customs Enforcement Issues
This CD training to Lebanon Customs Authority (LCA) participants on 13-16 May was co-delivered and cost shared with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). METAC’s Customs Administration Advisor presented Customs Intelligence practices and the concept of National Risk Targeting Centers, while ICMPD advisors covered Risk management, Post Clearance Audit, and Vessel/ Container tracking.
Tax and Customs Cooperation
A workshop on tax and customs cooperation was held in Beirut in June 27-28, co-organized by FAD and METAC tax and customs advisors. Very productive discussions covered the concepts of identifying, prioritizing, and addressing common risks and the institutional framework required for information exchange and joint activities aimed at improving compliance and increasing revenue mobilization.
Legislative Review Workshop
In response to a request from the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), this workshop, held at the METAC office 24 June to 3 July, assisted the Lebanese Customs Administration (LCA) to identify gaps in current customs legislation. Five LCA representatives, were supported on the (i) review of the customs law; (ii) development of recommendations for amendments to align the law with international standards; and (iii) planning for an implementation road map. World Bank representatives joined in person and online. The next step is to formally present workshop outcomes to the DPM and LCA, suggesting a prioritized list of amendments and proposing FAD / LEG support to assist with drafting, consultations, and implementation.
Reform Management
The Lebanese Ministry of Finance was supported in its reform agenda by METAC's Reform Management Mission during July 1-5. Despite the complicated economic and political context, the Lebanese tax authorities are moving towards reforming the existing tax administration organization with the large taxpayer project as a pilot. The mission conducted a comprehensive environmental scan and analyzed the possible alternative approaches to reform, engaging with key stakeholders and identifying the main challenges and basic prerequisites for successful change management.
Real Sector Statistics
Compilation of GDP Estimates for Financial Corporations
At the request of Central Administration for Statistics of Lebanon, METAC assisted the national accounts team during 22-26 July with reviewing the source data and improving the compilation of GDP estimates for financial corporations, to ensure that international best practices are applied.
