Information on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Between Non-Residents and the Resident Banking and Financial Sector

Document No. 1075 | Decision Section 1 | Year 2025-12-31 Addressees: Banks, Financial Institutions, Financial Intermediation Entities, and Leasing Companies.
Preamble: We enclose a copy of Decision No. 11618 dated November 29, 2013, concerning information on "Foreign Direct Investment" between non-residents and the resident banking and financial sector. Beirut, November 29, 2013. Governor of Banque du Liban, Riad T. Salamé.

Decision Text

Article 1: Resident banks, financial institutions, financial intermediation entities, and leasing companies in Lebanon must declare annually, in either Arabic or English, the elements of "Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)" prior to the reporting year, as specified in the "Coordinated Direct Investment Survey (CDIS)" questionnaire attached to this decision. The attachment includes the inward investment model and the outward investment model, along with explanatory notes for each. Article 2: The institutions specified in Article 1 must, by July 31 of each year, provide the External Sector and Balance of Payments Department at Banque du Liban with a paper copy of the questionnaire mentioned in Article 1, and an electronic copy via email: lb.gov.bdl@bop. The initial declaration regarding the investments mentioned in Article 1 covers the financial years 2010, 2011, and 2012, to be submitted within one month of the decision's issuance. Article 3: This decision takes effect upon its issuance. Article 4: This decision is published in the Official Gazette. (Note: The relevant Directorate was renamed to "Economics Department" per Decision No. 13779 dated November 28, 2025.)

Questionnaire Forms

Coordinated Direct Investment Survey ID (Section I)

Identification of the Resident Enterprise
Reporting Year | Institution No | Sector | Institution name | Address | City Contact Person: Name | E-mail | Tel | Fax

Coordinated Direct Investment Survey IN (1)

Section II: Identification of the Non-Resident Direct Investor(s) Non-Resident Direct Investor | Country of Residence [CODE/NAME] | Principal Activity [NAME] | Share in % at End of 2010 | Share in % at End of 2011 Section III: Statistical Information [End 2011 - in USD]

1. Equity
   • Equity claims of your enterprise on your direct investor(s): Opening Balance (end 2010), Financial transactions: Share capital, Reserves, Reinvested earnings, Other changes. Closing Balance (end 2011).
   • Equity liabilities by your enterprise to your direct investor(s): Opening Balance (end 2010), Financial transactions: Share capital, Reserves, Reinvested earnings, Other changes. Closing Balance (end 2011).
2. Debt
   • Short and long-term debt claims of your enterprise on your direct investor(s): Opening Balance (end 2010), Financial transactions (net), Other changes. Closing Balance (end 2011).
   • Short and long-term debt liabilities by your enterprise to your direct investor(s): Opening Balance (end 2010), Financial transactions (net), Other changes. Closing Balance (end 2011).
3. Income payable & receivable between your enterprise and your direct investor(s) & withholding taxes payable
   • Interest receipts (IR) | Withholding taxes on (IR), if any
   • Interest payments (IP) | Withholding taxes on (IP), if any
   • Gross dividends received & receivable (DR) | Withholding taxes on (DR), if any
   • Gross dividends paid & payable (DP) | Withholding taxes on (DP), if any

Coordinated Direct Investment Survey OUT (1)

Section II: Identification of the Non-Resident Direct Investment Enterprise(s) (Identical structure to IN Form, specifying "Direct Investment Enterprise" instead of "Investor").
Section III: Statistical Information [End 2011 - in USD] (Identical structure to IN Form, detailing equity claims/liabilities and debt claims/liabilities for outward direct investment enterprises.)

Explanatory Notes to the Questionnaire on Foreign Direct Investment in Lebanon (Form-In)

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Aim of the survey: Compiles FDI data in Lebanon (direct investments made by non-residents). Essential for economic analysis, measuring investment growth, and monitoring impact on the Lebanese economy. Coordinated by the IMF as part of a global undertaking, fulfilling Lebanon's statistical obligations (balance of payments and international investment position).
2. Scope: Identifies resident enterprises with direct foreign investment relationships. A direct investment relationship exists when a non-resident holds at least 10% of ordinary shares or voting rights. The resident enterprise is termed a "direct investment enterprise." Independent from the Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey.
3. Confidentiality: Information used for statistical purposes only, not disclosed to third parties. Published in aggregate form preventing direct/indirect identification of individual data.
4. Dissemination: Results posted on Banque du Liban’s website (www.bdl.gov.lb).
5. Questionnaire: Comprises three sections: Section I (resident enterprise), Section II (non-resident direct investor(s)), Section III (statistical data). Only one questionnaire is required even with multiple non-resident direct investors.
6. Reporting period: Covers positions/balances as of Dec 31, 2010 and Dec 31, 2011 (reference year), plus financial transactions and income items between these dates. Repeated annually, targeting the two preceding years and the in-between period.

II. DEFINITIONS

1. Preliminary remarks: Financial transactions between a resident and non-resident are considered FDI transactions.
2. Definitions:
   • Direct Investment Enterprise: Resident enterprise classified as such when a non-resident investor holds ≥10% of ordinary shares/voting rights (directly/indirectly).
   • Direct Investor: Resident enterprise or individual holding ≥10% of ordinary shares/voting rights in a resident enterprise.
   • Direct Investment Relationship: Link where the non-resident exercises control/significant influence and demonstrates lasting interest.
   • Reverse Investment: When the direct investment enterprise acquires financial claims on its direct investor <10% of voting equity (reported as claims). When ≥10%, it's another direct investment relationship (reported in Out-Form).
3. Detailed Information on the Questionnaire: Only one questionnaire should be filled out even with multiple direct investors.

III. THE APPLICATION

1. Section I: Identify name, coordinates, and principal activity of your enterprise (the direct investment enterprise).
2. Section II: Identify name, country of residence, and principal activity of the non-resident direct investor(s). For individuals, select "Individuals" under principal activity. Provide total share percentage for each non-resident direct investor.
3. Section III: Statistical Information (General & Specific Guidelines)
   • Details financial situation: reference year end (closing balance), preceding year (opening balance), and changes in between. Amounts per non-resident direct investor must be specified for all items.
   • All figures in USD. Financial transactions recorded at transaction date value. For continuous transactions (e.g., interest), use weighted average exchange rate; for others, use transaction date rate.
   • Interest: Report total accrued value (payable/receivable) for the reference year, even if partially paid/received.
   • Dividends: Report total value received/receivable (paid/payable) during the reference year.
   • Non-USD positions: Use year-end foreign exchange rates.
   • Reverse investment handling: If no reverse investment, fill only "liabilities by your enterprise to your direct investor(s)". If reverse investment exists, record outward positions/transactions under "claims of your enterprise on your direct investor(s)".
   • Equity: Encompasses voting/non-voting shares, participating preferred shares, and non-cash acquisitions (machinery, capital equipment, goods/services).
   • Opening/Closing Balance: Total book value of paid-up share capital (excluding treasury shares, including issuing premiums), Reserves, Cumulated reinvested earnings (may be negative). All reserves identified as equity in the balance sheet are included, including investment grants per accounting guidelines.