Georges Corm Economic & Financial Consultancy Office Since 1985 Office n 906, Starco centre (Block A), Georges Picot street, Mina El Hosn, Beirut, Lebanon Tel & Fax: 961 1 370130 365697 E-mail: gecorm@inco.com.lb Website: www.georgescorm.com
History of the Consultancy Office The Office was created in Paris in 1985 to serve public & private clients, as well as international organizations The Office has developed various consultancy services in the field of economics & finance It was closed for two years (1999-2000) when its Head, Dr. Georges Corm, served as Minister of Finance of Lebanon (see Dr. Corm career profile at the end of this presentation) It opened again in Beirut in early 2001 where it is still located in the main downtown area, near the Banking Street and Hotel Phoenicia
Types of Consultancy Services The Office has a strong capacity to mobilize various types of expertise in different fields through a network of associated experts of Arab & Western nationalities The Office offers a variety of services: Advise established corporations or new entities on structuring and restructuring economic or financial activities Assisting in institutional reorganization (legal, operational, accounting) Advising on Assets management and division of risks Supplying political, economic & financial information on Middle Eastern countries and investment risks in the region Preparing Seminars and training sessions The Office is also specializing in preparing macroeconomic studies, feasibility studies, prospective studies on future political & economic trends The Office can also act as a quality controller on advisory work or management consultancies performed by other Consultants
Main Fields of ConsultancyC Economic and Financial studies Structural Adjustment Programs (Public finance, Financial Sector, Privatization, Investment Climate) Feasibility studies Policy Evaluation Sustainable Development Policies Quality Control of Consultant work International Cooperation
Sample of Private Sector Clients Accor Group (France) Al Nafiyi for shares (Saudi Arabia) Banque Arabe et Internationale D'Investissements -B.A.I.I, (France) Crédit Lyonnais (France) Dattes J.Lavagne (Marseilles). Fransabank group (Lebanon) Independent Media Foundation SAL (Lebanon) Lebanese Bankers Association (Lebanon) Mak Holding, (Lebanon) Ordre des Ingenieurs de Beyrouth Publigraphics Group (Lebanon & Gulf) Royal Monceau (France) Sanofi-Aventis (Lebanon) Société Générale Libano-Europ Européenne de Banque (Lebanon) Société Marseillaise de Crédit (France)
Public Sector Clients Agence Française aise de Dévélopment D (AFD), France Central Bank of Algeria Central Bank of Lebanon Delegation à l'amenagement du territoire et à l'action- DATAR -France Economic and Social Fund- Lebanon Ministry of Works -Bahrain Office of the Vice-Prime Minister in Lebanon
International Organisation Clients Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) European Commission (Brussels) IFC (World Bank Group) Organization of Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York UN Environment Program/Mediterranean Action Plan and Plan Bleu d Action d pour la MéditerranM diterranée e (UNEPMAP) United Nations Development Program (UNDP) The World Bank
Countries of expertise Bahrai n Iran Saudi Arabia Tanzania France Oman Middle East & North African Region (MENA) Mediterranean countries Algeri a Albani a Lebanon Turke y Jordan Tunisi a Syri a Morocc o Egypt Yeme n
Sample of Selected Studies (1) A Strategy to stimulate Foreign Direct Investment in Bahrain and Oman Economic and Financial relations between the Arab countries and the EEC countries from 1960 to 1987 (4 volumes, 466 statistical tables) Exchange of goods and services in the Mediterranean basin-1960/1990 (19 volumes with the creation of a computerized databank) Financial opportunities in the Development of the Agribusiness sector in the Arab World (2 volumes) Financing sustainable development in the Mediterranean Region Foundations of a sustainable development for Lebanon Overcoming The Debt Trap In Lebanon: An analysis of debt mechanism and scenarios for the future The Arab Experience in Regional Financial Arrangements The Complexity and Economic Impact of Migration Movements in the MENA Region The foreign indebtedness of Algeria and policy to be followed in the international markets
Selected Studies (2) Feasibility study for the establishment of a five stars hotel in Beirut (France) A Group strategy for a large multinational hotel company to expand in the Middle East (France) Modernizing and rationalizing Financial and Accounting systems for different large institutions (Lebanon & Gulf countries) Feasibility study for the establishment of various banks (Lebanon & Algeria) Feasibility study to establish Industrial Venture Investment Funds (Lebanon & Tunis) Feasibility study to establish a daily newspaper and a weekly magazine for a large Media Group (Lebanon) The competitive capacity of the Lebanese banking system in the Middle East (Lebanon) Actuarial study to reform a large Pension system (Lebanon)
Selected missions Advisor to the Central bank of Algeria, mainly in the field of banking and financial regulations (1989-1992) Team leader on behalf of EU to the Ministry of Finance of Turkey for the alignment of the Turkish tax system to the Directives of the European Union (2004) Team leader for the elaboration of an EU Program to strengthen the competitive capacity of the Tunisian Economy (2006) Team leader for the evaluation for EU of the Structural Adjustment Program of the Financial Sector in Morocco (2005) Team leader for an appraisal of the new banking legislation allowing foreign banks to establish new banks in Syria (for IFC 2001) Study for the restructuring of Algerian Development Bank (for WB -1987) Study for the restructuring of Bahrain Development Bank (for WB - 1995) Consulting missions to advise on the banking system rehabilitation and privatization in Albania (for EU 1994-1996) Pre-diagnostic mission to appraise the state of the Iranian banking system (for WB 1998) Restructuring of the Specialized banking institutions in Yemen (for WB - 1998) Coordinator and advisor to the elaboration of a WB Program to rehabilitate public enterprises and settle State arrears in Morocco (for WB 1984-1986) Team leader on behalf of EU to appraise the rehabilitation needs and elaborate a Program for the modernization of the Syrian Ministry of Finance (Taxation, Budget and Public Investment, Treasury and Public Debt, Customs, IT and HR) (1996-1997)
Highlights of Georges Corm Career (1) Higher Education : Graduated from Paris University Institut d Etudes Politiques ( Major in Economics and Public Finance) in 1961 and Faculté de Droit et de Sciences Economiques Licence en Droit (1962), tdiplôme d Etudes Supérieures (1966) Doctorat d Etat (Ph.d.) in Constitutional Law with the highest honors (1969). Professional Carrier : Lebanese civil service 1963-64 Economist with the Ministry of Planning, 1964-1968 Monetary and Financial Expert with the Ministry of Finance International banking and central banking Crédit Lyonnais Beirut and Paris (1968-1970), Union des Banques Arabes et Françaises, UBAF, Paris (1970-73), General Representative of the Banque Nationale d Algérie for the Middle East, Beirut (1973-1980) and Financial Advisor to the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Algeria (1976-1978). Advisor to the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon (1980-1985) and Head of Investment Department at Intra Investment Company, Beirut (1981-1982)
Highlights of Georges Corm Career (2) International economic & financial consulting Head of G. Corm Economic and Financial Consultant Office, Paris (1985-98) Head of G. Corm Economic and Financial Consultant Office, Beirut (since 2001) From Décember 1998 to October 2000, G. Corm served as Minister of Finance of the Lebanese Republic. In this capacity, he prepared a Five Year Plan for fiscal reform, prepared the introduction of VAT and paid all accumulated arrears due by the State to the private sector. The Fiscal Reform Plan was supported by an EU Grant of 50 million. During his tenure, average actual yield on Tbills decreased from 22.5% to 14.4%. Academic experience : Professor Lecturer between 1972 and 1985 and since 2001 at major Lebanese universities Membership in Professional Bodies Membership in Professional Bodies : The Swedish Institute in Alexandria, The Arab Organization to fight Corruption (Beirut), Economic Research Forum for the Arab World, Turkey and Iran (Cairo), Arab Economic Research Society (Cairo), Arab Thought Forum (Amman), Centre de Recherches de l Orient Contemporain CERMOC (Paris-Beirut-Amman)
For More Info Visit Dr. Corm Website www.georgescorm.com