As Lebanon stands at a critical juncture, initiatives for collaboration and leveraging expertise are more important than ever for national rebuilding and progress. In this context, more than 300 LAU alumni and business executives and LAU leadership gathered at LAU’s 14th Annual Business Networking Event to connect and explore partnership opportunities and new trends in the industry. 

Delivering the keynote speech, Minister for the Displaced and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and LAU trustee Kamal Shehadi assessed the implications of AI on the Lebanese job market and industry and outlined a five-year plan to foster innovation and a dynamic economy in a digitalized world.

The gathering, which took place on the Beirut campus on May 8, 2025, was co-hosted by the Alumni Relations Office and the Career Development Services at the Dean of Students Office. In attendance were senior LAU leaders, including LAU President Chaouki T. Abdallah, Provost George E. Nasr, vice presidents, chief of staff, deans, faculty and staff.

In his welcome remarks, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations Abdallah Al Khal noted how the annual event “continues to serve as a valuable platform for professional exchange, collaboration and the strengthening of our alumni network.

For Lead Director of Student Services Zeina Trad Barakat, the large turnout was “a powerful affirmation of your commitment to nurturing the next generation of changemakers.” Addressing industry professionals, she underscored the shared goal of “building a stronger, more resilient future for Lebanon and beyond.”

Highlighting the university’s role in “preparing students both for today’s job market and the jobs of tomorrow which have yet to be created,” President Abdallah affirmed the need to embrace new technology, particularly AI.

Consequently, added Dr. Abdallah, LAU is constantly updating its curricula to keep up with progress that is moving at warp speed. “The advantage is that as a university, and as a country, we can skip a lot of the steps in between and not only use the technology but also contribute to its development,” he said.

This thought of having capable, innovative talent in Lebanon formed the core of Dr. Shehadi’s argument. “Not only are we multilingual and multicultural,” he said, “but we are also very enterprising; we take the initiative, we are problem solvers, and our universities are some of the top in the region.”

His vision is to have the country regain a leadership position, particularly in economic activities, education, healthcare delivery, and services, specifically software services that are delivered remotely.

Dr. Shehadi outlined a mandate for his ministry to harness digital technology and AI in driving national development, empowering citizens, optimizing government services, fostering economic growth, and ultimately, improving the quality of life.

“In the next five years, Lebanon should be placed among the top 50 countries worldwide in AI-readiness,” he said. Underlining other key markers of this advancement, he noted that 80 percent of government services should be powered by AI, while shifting to 100-percent-cloud-based data storage, as well as having a well-funded technology industry and double the AI workforce by nurturing talent and integrating it in every sector of economic activity.

Minister Shehadi’s strategy to achieve those objectives can be summed up in a four-point plan, “LEAP,” which he elaborated on at the event.

In the first step, “Launch,” he plans to establish the ministry as a leading entity with initial digital AI programs. The “Enact” step in the first year involves deploying regulatory frameworks, partnerships and investments that can enable wider adoption and utilization of AI. For the next three years, Dr. Shehadi’s vision is to “Advance:” Position Lebanon as a regional leader in AI and technology policy with scalable investment growth and sector-wide AI adoption. The last step, “Promote,” hopes to realize a fully operational, tech-enabled economy whereby Lebanon is a recognized regional hub for AI talent and innovation, in five years’ time.

Dr. Shehadi reassured the audience that his strategic vision is not based on false optimism but rather on concrete advantages that can carry this plan forward. “Lebanon has the highest number of tech leaders overseas proportional to our population than any other country in the world,” he said, adding: “And yet, we have not yet given them the chance to change the way this country works.”

To that end, Dr. Shehadi repeatedly extended an invitation to alumni and business leaders in the audience and beyond to collaborate with the ministry and bring forth their ideas for the service of the country. He engaged extensively with the attendees and fielded their questions at the end of the session and at the reception that followed.