The World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU), the largest Lebanese Diaspora organization in the world, declared that Lebanese expatriates continue to cautiously watch the financial and economic developments in Lebanon, given the significant impact of such events on their decision to invest in the country. It noted that the negative rumors that have been circulating about the Lebanese economy have triggered concerns within the Lebanese Diaspora, especially among depositors and investors.

The WLCU raised four points related to Lebanon's financial situation and ongoing discussions about the 2019 draft budget. First, it reiterated its confidence in Banque du Liban's (BdL) policies that have maintained the stability of the exchange rate. Second, it indicated that, in 2017, it opposed the government's decision to raise the tax rate on the interest earned on deposits at Lebanese banks from 5% to 7%, as it considered that expatriates were already paying high tax rates, that reach up to 35%, on their income in their countries of residence. In this context, it said that the proposed measure in the 2019 draft budget to further increase the tax rate on deposit rates to 10% would discourage large expatriate depositors from placing their money in Lebanon and, instead, resort to countries that offer better incentives. It noted that smaller expatriate depositors, who place their deposits in Lebanon as part of their retirement plan, will suffer as a result of higher tax rates on their deposits. Overall, it stressed that Lebanese authorities should provide special incentives and exemptions to expatriate depositors so that they would continue to place their money in Lebanon.

Third, it considered that Parliament enacted in 2017 the increase in the public-sector wages and salaries without having an economic plan in place, a decision that could have been motivated by the approaching elections at the time. 

Fourth, it reiterated that the government would not be able to narrow the fiscal deficit by raising taxes. It added that achieving a narrower deficit requires austerity measures that target the over-sized public sector, as well as the random and politically-driven employment in the public administration. It added that the increase in taxes could lead to economic stagnation or recession. It noted that higher taxes demonstrate the government's inability to formulate a well-defined fiscal policy to support investment and production. Overall, it considered that any economic vision that is not based on incentives to encourage investment or attract capital would simply fail. 

The Institute of International Finance estimated that the implementation of most of the proposed spending and revenues measures in the 2019 draft budget, along with improving tax compliance and fighting corruption, would help significantly narrow the fiscal deficit, reduce the public debt level and unlock the $11.2bn that the international community pledged at the CEDRE conference. It said that the planned fiscal adjustment measures aim to shift the primary fiscal balance from a current deficit to a surplus from 2019 onwards, through reducing non-priority expenditures, containing the public-sector wage bill, reforming Electricité du Liban (EdL), and raising tax revenues. 
    
The IIF indicated that tight monetary policy would support fiscal consolidation and would help maintain price stability, sustain the currency peg to the US dollar and attract adequate inflows of non-resident deposits. It added that the successful implementation of the fiscal adjustment would result in a gradual decline in interest rates and would provide an opportunity for Banque du Liban to strengthen its balance sheet. It noted that credible fiscal reforms would reduce the need for sustained capital inflows to finance the government's fiscal deficit, would send a positive signal to foreign investors and lead to faster deposit growth.

The IIF pointed out that the challenge facing the government is to move from the planning of reforms to the implementation phase. It projected the fiscal deficit to gradually narrow from 11.2% of GDP in 2018 to 8.4% of GDP in 2019 and 1.2% of GDP by 2023 in case authorities proceed with most of the planned fiscal measures, and if they fight corruption and improve tax collection. It noted that the fight against corruption needs an independent judiciary system and a prosecutor with special powers to protect him. It also forecast the public debt level to regress from 151.7% of GDP at the end of 2019 to 149.8% of GDP at end-2020 and 130.3% of GDP by the end of 2023. 

Accelerator StartechEUS FinHub announced that it would launch its operations in May 2019 at the Beirut Digital District, becoming the first hub for financial technology (fintech) startups in the Levant region. The new accelerator intends to provide startups with mentorship, a fintech office space, as well as access to international markets and to Series A funding of between $100,000 and $2m per company. Series A funding refers to an investment in a start-up that has shown progress in developing its business model and has demonstrated a potential to grow and generate revenue.

Specifically, the StartechEUS Technology Academy would allow industry experts, private leaders and academic partners to provide startups with up-to-date training sessions, as well as with the tools and resources necessary to help them participate in a competitive global market. Also, the accelerator would invest both directly and indirectly in fintech startups through its Finnovation Fund.

Further, StartechEUS's Governance Management Framework aims to support the creation of innovative fintech business models and help transform the entrepreneurs' ideas into companies. In addition, the accelerator would allow startups to have access to international markets, especially Europe and the U.S., through its partnership with the Lebanese International Finance Executives (LIFE) organization, which consists of a global network of more than 1,000 senior Lebanese finance professionals around the world.