NNA - The Port of Beirut marked the groundbreaking of a major container terminal expansion project, under the patronage and in the presence of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, alongside Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny, Beirut Port Management and Investment Committee Chairman Marwan Naffi, CMA CGM representatives, and political, economic and diplomatic figures.
The project, backed by an investment of around $100 million by CMA CGM, will expand the container terminal from approximately 45 to 75 hectares and increase its annual handling capacity from 1.2 million to 3 million TEUs. Works are expected to be completed within 16 to 18 months.
Salam: A New Window for Lebanon onto the World
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the project represents an important step toward reviving Beirut Port and restoring confidence in Beirut and Lebanon.
He stressed that the ambition is for the port to regain its role in transit and re-export trade and become an advanced logistics hub in the Eastern Mediterranean, serving Lebanon and neighboring Arab countries while benefiting from evolving regional trade routes and supply chains.
Salam described the project as "a new window for Lebanon onto the world," saying the expansion would help restore Beirut Port’s position among the leading ports of the Eastern Mediterranean and reinforce its role as a pillar of the Lebanese economy.
Rasamny: Investment Is a Vote of Confidence in Lebanon
Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny said the ceremony was about more than expanding a container terminal.
"Today, we are laying another cornerstone in a larger project: strengthening Beirut Port’s position as a strategic port in the Eastern Mediterranean and restoring Lebanon’s role on the region’s transport and trade map," he said.
Rasamny stressed that investment in Lebanon today is not merely a commercial decision but also "a decision of confidence," particularly when that confidence comes from a global logistics group such as CMA CGM.
He said the ministry is pursuing an integrated vision linking Beirut Port with Lebanon’s other ports, the airport, roads, railways and land border crossings.
"We are building an integrated transport system, and we want to transform Lebanon’s position on the Mediterranean into real economic value," Rasamny said.
He reiterated the ambition for Beirut Port to operate efficiently around the clock, seven days a week, under the highest security and safety standards, stressing that the government must move beyond addressing the consequences of past failures toward tackling their causes and building a system that prevents their recurrence.
Naffi: Expansion Marks a New Phase for Beirut Port
Beirut Port Management and Investment Committee Chairman Marwan Naffi highlighted the significance of the expansion as part of the port’s development and modernization drive.
He stressed the importance of increasing the terminal’s capacity and upgrading its infrastructure to accommodate greater container traffic, improve operational efficiency and strengthen Beirut Port’s competitiveness.
Naffi said the project reflects efforts to move the port toward a new phase of development capable of supporting Lebanon’s commercial activity and reinforcing Beirut’s position as a regional maritime and logistics gateway.
Saadé Reaffirms CMA CGM’s Long-Term Commitment to Lebanon
CMA CGM Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé reaffirmed the group’s long-term commitment to Lebanon and Beirut Port, stressing the importance of continued investment in modernizing the port and strengthening its competitiveness.
Saadé highlighted CMA CGM’s deep-rooted ties to Lebanon and its confidence in the country’s potential, noting that the container terminal expansion represents a major investment aimed at increasing capacity, improving operational efficiency and strengthening Beirut’s connectivity with international markets.
He said the project would help position Beirut Port as a stronger regional logistics hub and support Lebanon’s return to the regional and international trade map.
