Al Sharq – March 13, 2010

The Lebanese people, the true wealth of Lebanon

… The richest man in the world, Carlos Slim, was warmly welcomed in Lebanon. He is a Lebanese man, proud of his Lebanese origins, and illustrates the success of the Lebanese in the countries of emigration. He incarnates the image of the Lebanese man who has achieved an unprecedented success in the world of emigration, far from religion and religious communities.

… Carlos SLIM is among the pioneering Lebanese people who emigrated. Holder of the Mexican nationality, he spared no effort to become one of the richest men of the world. He decided to visit his home country, to assert that the Lebanese are firmly attached to their homeland. It is noteworthy, in this regard, well-known Lebanese men, like late ex-Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, who emigrated and achieved remarkable successes, then came back home to restore safety and security in his home country, working a miracle of reconstruction. There are also many other successful figures who emigrated, returned and generously gave back to their home country, like Issam Fares.

In Lebanon, this tiny country in terms of surface and population, the number of residing Lebanese does not exceed 4 million, whereas the number of the Lebanese overseas amounts to 17 million, extending over successive generations, among whom 8 million are still closely attached to their nation. A great part of them became rich and contributed to the growth of the countries to which they emigrated.