The logo of LibanPost. (Credit: Twitter/LibanPost)
BEIRUT — French transport and logistics giant CMA CGM, headed by French-Lebanese businessman Rodolphe Saadé, confirmed Thursday morning that it has submitted a last-minute bid to take over Lebanon's postal services, as the end of LibanPost's contract looms.
The information was confirmed to L'Orient-Le Jour by CMA CGM's press office.
At a press conference on Thursday morning, caretaker Telecoms Minister Johnny Corm announced the result of the bids submitted for the takeover of the Lebanese postal service, confirming that there was only one, that of "Meritt and the company Colis Privé, wholly owned by CMA CGM, following a bid submitted on Thursday at 8:45 a.m."
Thursday's last-minute bid comes after CMA CGM nevertheless said in January it was withdrawing from the tender, without providing any reasons.
The tender for taking over Lebanon's postal service, which expired at the end of 2019 and has been renewed on sight since, was launched in October last year but failed due to a lack of bidders.
A new tender was launched in February under the same conditions, with a deadline of Thursday morning.
In February, caretaker Telecoms Minister Johnny Corm said that LibanPost SAL would continue to operate the sector until May 31, 2023, the deadline for its contract, unless a new bidding mechanism is launched in the meantime.
LibanPost also said it would continue to provide services until a replacement was found.
