NNA - A meeting was held on Wednesday morning at the Ministry of Finance, chaired by Minister Yassin Jaber, with the participation of Jean-Christophe Carret, Regional Director of the World Bank, along with a delegation from the bank, ministry officials, and financial experts. 

Discussions reportedly focused on a World Bank-funded project to modernize the ministry’s IT infrastructure.  

Following the meeting, Jaber stated that the discussions were part of a series of projects under review with the World Bank. He highlighted a $28.5 million loan aimed at upgrading the ministry’s IT systems, emphasizing that many of the existing systems have become outdated and require urgent modernization.  

The project includes establishing a unified data center to consolidate customs, VAT, property tax, and other financial data under the General Directorate of Finance. The ministry has already allocated space for the center at its headquarters in downtown Beirut.  

Jaber stressed that centralizing IT operations and updating systems is crucial for improving tax collection efficiency and enhancing online public services. He described the initiative as a vital investment, noting that the government may consider additional funding beyond the allocated loan to accelerate its completion.

========R.H.