The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Lebanese government opened discussions this week geared toward securing a $10bn bailout of the country’s dilapidated finance sector and restructuring of public debt.

Lebanon’s debt-to-GDP is amongst the largest globally, and since last year the country’s been experiencing a dual banking-currency crisis grinding the economy to a halt (MEES, 20 December 2019). (CONTINUED - 313 WORDS)