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The Economy of Beirut
The economy of Lebanon was destroyed by the civil war. However, post-war reconstruction efforts, particularly Horizon 2000, have worked to grow the economy immensely.
From 1952-1975 Beirut was hub of cultural, social, intellectual and economic in the Arab world and was known as a haven of liberalism. The airport and sea port coupled with free trade policies was highly attractive to foreign investors. Also, the high bank secrecy in Beirut brought in large amounts of money from rich, non-Lebanese Arabs and the city became the banking center of the Middle East.
Beirut Port
The successful and liberal press and printing industry were, and remain, an integral part of the Beirut economy. Tourism was also important, but unsurprisingly came to a screeching halt during the war.
With the civil war in Lebanon, many of this economic activity stopped, but not all of it. Production moved into the home and Lebanese products were still in demand throughout the Arab world. The Lebanese press actually expanding throughout the war. Currently the city exports a wide variety of goods including: authentic jewelry, inorganic chemicals, miscellaneous consumer goods, fruit, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers and paper. In reconstruction, attracting tourism is a key point in rebuilding the economy of the city.
