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GCC Officially Launches Lebanon City Hub
GCC officially launched the Lebanon City Hub, appointing Dr. Mayada Baydas as Chairwoman to strengthen China–Middle East cooperation in fintech, digital economy, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and international investment.
5/26/20262 min read
Global City Connect (GCC) officially announced the establishment of the GCC Lebanon City Hub on May 26, marking another important step in GCC’s growing international cooperation network across the Middle East and creating a new platform for collaboration between China and Lebanon in fintech, digital economy, social development, and international investment.
Approved by the GCC Council, internationally recognized financial inclusion and economic development expert Dr. Mayada Baydas has been appointed Chairwoman of the GCC Lebanon City Hub.
Dr. Baydas brings more than 25 years of global experience in financial inclusion, digital finance, economic development, agricultural finance, gender economics, and social impact investment. She has worked extensively across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and emerging markets, building a strong international reputation in inclusive finance and development.
She currently serves as CEO of a financial inclusion institution in Lebanon and previously served as Vice President of Financial Inclusion at Astra Tech in the United Arab Emirates, where she led initiatives in digital financial literacy, inclusive fintech ecosystems, and financial consumer engagement while working closely with regulators, banks, and international financial institutions.
In the microfinance and development finance sector, Dr. Baydas previously served for many years as CEO of Emkan Finance in Lebanon, where she led financial inclusion and economic development programs with combined lending and operational portfolios exceeding USD 350 million, serving thousands of entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Her international academic and research background also includes work with the University of California, Davis, The Ohio State University, the World Bank, and the International Labor Organization (ILO), focusing on economic development, financial systems, and inclusive growth.
The Lebanon City Hub will focus on promoting international cooperation in:
Fintech and digital payments
Financial inclusion and SME development
Women entrepreneurship and youth innovation
Digital economy and international investment
Education and social impact initiatives
China–Middle East industrial cooperation
Industry observers believe that as the Middle East continues accelerating digital transformation and fintech development, substantial opportunities exist for cooperation between Chinese enterprises and Middle Eastern markets in areas such as artificial intelligence, e-commerce, education technology, digital finance, and cross-border investment.
GCC stated that the Lebanon City Hub will leverage Dr. Baydas’ extensive international experience and strong regional networks to promote practical cooperation projects and strengthen economic, technological, and cultural exchanges between China and the Middle East.
The establishment of the Lebanon City Hub further expands GCC’s international network, which already includes cooperation platforms and City Hubs across North America, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa.