The National Council for Economic and Social Development (NESDB), in partnership with the Libyan Industry Union (LIU), held a workshop at its Tripoli headquarters yesterday entitled “The Reality of Export and Transit Trade in Libya.”
The workshop saw broad participation from representatives of government agencies, economic institutions, and the private sector, aiming to explore ways to develop the export sector and enhance Libya’s role as a regional hub for trade and logistics.
The workshop was attended by the Director General of the NESDB, the Minister of Labour and Rehabilitation, the Head of the Economic Committee of the High State Council, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Trade for Free Zones Affairs, along with representatives from several relevant bodies and institutions.
Representatives from chambers of commerce, the Libyan Business Council, and several representatives from the banking sector also participated in the workshop, contributing to enhanced dialogue and coordination among various stakeholders in the economic and commercial fields.
The workshop included a comprehensive presentation on the current state of transit trade in Libya and the challenges it faces. It also reviewed the experiences of several Libyan industrial companies in the export sector, highlighting their successes and the difficulties they encountered.
The event featured an extensive dialogue session where participants discussed the most significant legislative, logistical, and financial obstacles hindering the growth of the export and transit trade sector. They also proposed several practical solutions aimed at developing this vital sector and enhancing its contribution to the national economy.
Recommendations
The workshop concluded with a set of recommendations, most notably:
- The modernization of legislative and regulatory frameworks
- The simplification of customs and administrative procedures
- The completion of digital transformation projects
- The activation of the single window system to expedite trade and improve the business environment
Participants also recommended developing the infrastructure of ports, border crossings, transportation networks, and logistics services. They further recommended activating free zones and strengthening their role in supporting transit and re-export trade, thereby reinforcing Libya's position as a regional hub for trade and logistics.
The recommendations also emphasized the importance of supporting national exports by enhancing the competitiveness of Libyan products, developing export-related financial and banking services, activating trade agreements, and strengthening institutional coordination and regional and international cooperation to open new markets for Libyan exports.
Formulating a practical vision for developing the export and transit trade system
In an exclusive statement to Libya Herald, Mahmoud Al-Futaisi, Director General of the NESDB, said that the workshop is part of the NESDBs efforts to launch a national dialogue bringing together the public and private sectors to formulate a practical vision for developing the export and transit trade system, considering it a fundamental pillar for diversifying the national economy and stimulating growth outside the oil sector.
Libya possesses strategic assets
Al-Futaisi added that Libya possesses strategic assets that qualify it to be a regional hub for trade and logistics, thanks to its geographic location and network of ports and land crossings. However, achieving this requires completing legislative reforms, modernizing infrastructure, simplifying administrative and customs procedures, and providing a more competitive investment environment.
Recommendations will be the basis of a work programme
He emphasized that the workshop's recommendations would not remain mere discussions but would form the basis of a work programme to be adopted by the Council in collaboration with relevant authorities. The aim is to translate these recommendations into actionable policies that support national exports, enhance transit trade, and increase the contribution of productive sectors to the Libyan economy.
PPP
Al-Fataisi noted that the NESDB is counting on partnership with the private sector as a key partner in development. He stressed that the next phase requires greater integration between government institutions and the private sector to capitalize on Libya's economic opportunities and strengthen its integration into regional and international trade chains.