Courtesy visit by the Ambassador of Lebanon 

The new Ambassador of Lebanon to Spain, the Honorable Mr. Hani Chemaitelly, met with the Director General of Casa Árabe, diplomat Miguel Moro Aguilar, in Madrid on October 9. 

At the meeting, the director of the Spanish institution reviewed the history of past cooperation between Casa Árabe and the embassy which he represents, with Ambassador Chemaitelly. They also explored future initiatives which both entities could launch together.

Bilateral relations between Spain and Lebanon are developing smoothly and at a high level. These relations have intensified greatly in recent years, especially since the Spanish government’s decision to join a reinforced UNIFIL following the war with Israel in July 2006.  

The bilateral trade balance between Spain and Lebanon has historically been favorable to Spain. Lebanon has traditionally been one of the main destinations for Spanish exports in the Middle East, ranking amongst the three or four top markets in the region alongside Saudi Arabia, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The economic and financial crisis that the country has been experiencing since 2018 has led to a significant decrease in the business which Spain does in the country. In 2023, Lebanon ranked as Spain’s 79th most important customer and sixth within the Middle East. In 2023, the value of exports was €284 million (18% less than in 2022).