Ministry of Economy and Trade

What Ministry of Economy and Trade does

The Ministry of Economy and Trade (Arabic: وزارة الاقتصاد والتجارة) is a government ministry of the Lebanese Republic, established by Decree No. 6821 on 28 December 1973 and headquartered at the Azarieh Building, Riyadh El Soleh, Downtown Beirut. Under its founding decree, the ministry is responsible for economic development, commercial regulation, competition policy, combating monopoly, and trade development, operating through specialized directorates covering Foreign Trade, Companies, Expos and Fairs, Trade Information Center, Consumer Protection, Intellectual Property Rights, and the Technical Center for Pricing Policies. Its remit spans consumer rights protection (market surveillance, price monitoring, anti-monopoly enforcement, food safety), intellectual property administration (trademarks under Law 2385/1924, patents under Law 240/2000, industrial designs, and semiconductor topography protection), trade facilitation (import/export licensing, FTAs with the EU and EFTA, WTO/TRIPS compliance), SME support (funding information, training, market access), and economic research (national accounts compilation, market reports).

The ministry's core digital infrastructure comprises an Electronic Portal (portal.economy.gov.lb) for online government transactions including trademark registration, complaint submission, and administrative services; a Consumer Protection Lebanon mobile application available on Google Play and Apple App Store; a Trademark Search and Registration System (webmail.economy.gov.lb:83/iprsearch); an online Complaint Ticketing System with priority levels and location-based routing; and a Trade Information System for foreign trade statistics. The underlying technology stack is described as standard government electronic portal and online service delivery systems with no disclosed AI/ML, API, or SDK layer, and integration primarily through web-based transactional flows rather than partner-facing APIs.

Operationally, the ministry does not generate commercial revenue; it is funded through Lebanese state budget allocations and supplemented by donor-funded programs (EU's QUALEB quality infrastructure program, World Bank, UNDP, USAID). Services are delivered free or at statutory fees to citizens and businesses through a multi-channel network spanning the Electronic Portal, a national hotline (1739), six provincial Economic Affairs offices across Lebanese governorates, email/webmail, and the consumer mobile app. Customer segments are deliberately broad — Lebanese citizens, SMEs, commercial traders, and other government/international partners — and the ministry maintains institutional partnerships with the WTO, WIPO, ITC, EFTA, EU, UNDP, USAID, World Bank, and the Arab League/GUCCIAAC to support its regulatory and developmental mandates.

Name

Ministry of Economy and Trade

Legal name

Ministry of Economy and Trade (Lebanese Republic)

Website

https://economy.gov.lb

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Ministry of Economy and Trade is a Lebanese government ministry that regulates economic policy, trade, consumer protection, and intellectual property registration, serving citizens, SMEs, and commercial traders across Lebanon via an electronic portal, a national hotline, a mobile app, and six provincial offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Economic Regulation

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAAAL

Trade, Industry & Economic Development Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Central/Federal Government Administration

SECONDARYBPAHAFAN

Trade, Export Controls & Customs Compliance

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Risk, Compliance & Governance Advisory

SECONDARYBPAIAOAA

Business Registration & Corporate Affairs (Registries)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Regulatory Agencies & Licensing (Cross-sector)

SECONDARYBPAHALAF

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Research, Analytics & Expert Services

SECONDARYBPAIABAO

State/Provincial Licensing, Permitting & Regulatory Administration (Cross-sector)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/State/Provincial & Regional Government Administration

Keywords

• Consumer protection services
• Intellectual property registration
• Trade licensing regulation
• Price monitoring policy
• SME government support

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Ministry of Economy and Trade is the Lebanese government body responsible for economic and commercial affairs, providing public services including consumer protection enforcement, intellectual property registration (trademarks, patents, industrial designs, copyright), trade licensing, price monitoring, and SME support programs. It operates an Electronic Portal, mobile applications, and a national hotline to deliver these services to citizens and businesses across Lebanon.

Product overview

The Ministry of Economy and Trade is a Lebanese government ministry offering a suite of public services rather than a commercial product portfolio. The core digital services include an Electronic Portal for online government transactions, a Trademark Search and Registration System for intellectual property rights, a Complaint Ticketing System for consumer protection issues, and a Consumer Protection mobile application. Additional services encompass price monitoring through the Technical Center for Pricing Policies (producing the Fatouch Index and weekly price basket reports), an SME Support Portal for small business assistance, and comprehensive Intellectual Property Services covering trademarks, patents, and industrial designs. The Consumer Protection Directorate provides food safety monitoring, anti-monopoly enforcement, and consumer awareness services. These services are interconnected through the Electronic Portal which serves as the main gateway for citizen and business transactions with the ministry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Consumer Protection Lebanon (Mobile App): Mobile application for consumer protection services

Products and services

• Electronic Portal (البوابة الإلكترونية) Government services portal providing online access to ministry services including trademark registration, complaint submission, and administrative transactions for citizens and businesses.
• Trademark Search and Registration System Online system for searching trademarks and submitting trademark registration applications through the Intellectual Property Rights service.
• Complaint Ticketing System Online complaint submission and tracking system allowing citizens to file complaints regarding consumer protection issues, with priority levels and location-based routing.
• Consumer Protection Lebanon Mobile App Smartphone application for consumer protection services enabling complaint filing and consumer rights information access, available on Google Play and the App Store.
• Price Monitoring and Reports (Fatouch Index and Weekly Price Basket) Technical Center for Pricing Policies service providing weekly and monthly price movement reports, Fatouch Index during Ramadan, and cheapest goods listings across supermarkets.
• SME Support Portal Portal for small and medium enterprises providing information on funding, training, legislation, competitions, mentorship, market access, export, and innovation support.
• Intellectual Property Services Comprehensive IP services including trademark registration, patent filing, industrial design registration, copyright protection, and semiconductor product protection.
• Consumer Protection Directorate Services Government service ensuring consumer rights protection, fair trade environment, food safety monitoring, anti-monopoly enforcement, and consumer awareness campaigns.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, supporting and regional.

• European UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European Union partners with the Ministry on various development programs including the quality unit (QUALEB) established under EU funding. The EU-Lebanon Association Agreement governs bilateral trade relations and the ministry participates in EU-supported economic development initiatives.
• United Nations Development Program (UNDP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP supports the ministry's projects including ongoing development programs aimed at economic recovery and institutional strengthening. The partnership involves technical assistance and capacity building.
• USAIDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSAID partners with the ministry on economic development and trade facilitation programs in Lebanon, supporting SME development and market access initiatives.
• European Free Trade Association (EFTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEFTA has a free trade agreement with Lebanon. The ministry administers and oversees the implementation of trade provisions under this agreement to facilitate trade between EFTA states and Lebanon.
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIPO collaborates with the ministry on intellectual property workshops and training programs. Joint activities include industrial design workshops (December 2018) and SME intellectual property strategy programs (March 2018) to strengthen IP protection in Lebanon.
• World Trade Organization (WTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebanon is a WTO member and the ministry represents the country in trade negotiations and implements WTO agreements including TRIPS. The ministry ensures compliance with international trade standards and dispute resolution mechanisms.
• International Trade Center (ITC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerITC provides trade intelligence and market access support through the Trade Information Center. Lebanese exporters in food and agricultural sectors benefit from ITC's trade data and export development resources.
• Arab League / GUCCIAACregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries works with the ministry on Arab trade facilitation and regional economic integration.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• World Bank: Multilateral development institution financing economic reform in Lebanon. The Ministry is a principal counterpart for trade and economic development programs and a recurring institutional partner.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Lebanon: UNDP's Lebanon country office supports institutional strengthening and economic recovery programs alongside the Ministry. Functions as a strategic development partner with comparable economic governance objectives.
• International Trade Centre (ITC): Joint WTO/UN agency supporting SME export development and trade intelligence. The Ministry's Trade Information Center operates with parallel functions to ITC's market access and trade data resources.
• World Trade Organization (WTO): International organization setting rules of trade between nations; the Ministry represents Lebanon in WTO proceedings and implements TRIPS. Comparable as a peer/partner actor in the international trade governance ecosystem.
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): UN agency coordinating IP protection globally; the Ministry is WIPO's Lebanese counterpart for trademark, patent, and industrial design registration. Comparable function in the IP administration ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Saudi Arabia Ministry of Commerce: Saudi Arabia's ministry overseeing commercial affairs, consumer protection, IP registration, and trade licensing. Direct peer operating the same set of consumer protection, trademark, and commercial registry functions in a regional context.
• UAE Ministry of Economy: UAE's federal ministry responsible for economic policy, trade, and consumer protection across the Emirates. Direct peer in mandate (economy and trade administration) and scale (federal government ministry with consumer protection and trade functions).
• Egypt Ministry of Trade and Industry: Egypt's ministry handling trade policy, industrial development, and commercial regulation. Comparable in mandate and breadth, including trade licensing, consumer protection, and economic development functions.
• Jordan Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply: Jordan's ministry responsible for industry, trade, and supply policy with consumer protection and IP registration remits. Closely comparable to Lebanon's structure as a regional trade and economic governance ministry.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of Commerce: The U.S. federal executive department responsible for economic growth, trade, and technology. A broader incumbent that performs overlapping functions (trade promotion, IP protection via USPTO, economic data) at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ministry-of-economy-and-trade

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ministry of Economy and Trade