Under the patronage of  His Excellency Archbishop Boulos Matar, and in partnership with Banque Libano-Française (BLF), La Sagesse University inaugurated "BLF Sagesse Smart Center" at the Faculty of Business and Finance in the presence of  Mr. Walid Raphael, Chairman and General Manager of BLF, Mgr. Camille Moubarak, Rector of  La Sagesse, Dr. Rock-Antoine Mehanna, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and a big number of BLF directors and employees, professors, students and journalists.

"The Bank addresses community challenges by empowering the young Lebanese generation through several capacity building programs, said Mr. Walid Raphaël. We are pleased to have contributed to the creation of  the Center given the longstanding relationship between the Maronite Archbishopric of  Beirut and our Bank. We also  intend to offer students training sessions at The Floor, BLF Trading Room, the largest in Lebanon with 40 market professionals covering all markets and financial instruments".

"BLF Sagesse Smart Center", considered as the first simulation center for managing companies in the Middle East, offers students the opportunity to analyze financial data. "It is a unique simulation lab in the region, created to manage companies in a real environment  reflecting the economical, political, security, financial and demographic changes, stated Dr. Rock-Antoine Mehanna.  It competes with similar models in MIT, Harvard and Yale, and helps students integrate the working world of finance and economy".

Archbishop Boulos Matar concluded: "The Archbishopric of  Beirut and La Sagesse University have a privileged relationship with Banque Libano-Française. We are pleased and very grateful to BLF for financing the Center that reflects the intelligence of both the professors and the students at the University. We are proud that our University is always up to date, pioneering in many fields to serve Lebanon and the  region".