logo
Turkish Trade Minister's visit and Roundtable: New Libyan Turkish Bank to be established, Letters of Guarantee problem, restarting 2011 stalled contracts discussed

Turkish Trade Minister's visit and Roundtable: New Libyan Turkish Bank to be established, Letters of Guarantee problem, restarting 2011 stalled contracts discussed

Libya Herald02-05-2025
On the sidelines of the high-level visit conducted by Turkish Minister of Trade, Ömer Bolat, to Libya, accompanied by a large delegation of businessmen working in the construction sector, a Roundtable Meeting on construction cooperation was held last Wednesday (30 April) in Tripoli.
The meeting was organized by the Tripoli Ministry of Economy and Trade, under the auspices of the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce and the General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences.
The meeting was attended by the Tripoli Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al-Hwej, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, Dr. Suhail Abushiha, Chairman of the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Anwar Abu Sitta, Member of the Board of Directors of the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA), Mustafa Al-Manea and several Libyan businessmen.
The Turkish Minister of Trade Bolat and his accompanying delegation included many Turkish businessmen involved in construction and building activities.
Intensifying trade cooperation between the two countries
Opening the Roundtable, Economy and Trade Minister Mohamed Al-Hwej focused on intensifying cooperation between the two countries. He stated that this visit represents a prelude to a qualitative shift in Libyan Turkish economic relations, beginning with restructuring all components, continuing to enhance the commercial aspect, which has reached very high levels, and training in all fields, on which we greatly rely.
Future long-term vision in investment and transit trade
Al-Hwej also addressed future visions for cooperation in the fields of investment and transit trade, expressing his hope for constructive cooperation and an effective long-term partnership between Libyan companies and their Turkish counterparts.
New map and qualitative shift in Libyan Turkish cooperation
Meanwhile, Turkish Trade Minister Bolat emphasised that the goal of this visit is to open more horizons for Libyan Turkish economic cooperation, saying, 'We have come to draw a new map for this cooperation and to bring about a qualitative shift in it. We have witnessed full cooperation from the Libyan side, and accordingly, we will hold regular meetings through the Technical Economic Committee signed today between our two countries''.
Libyan Turkish Commercial Bank to be created
''We will cooperate in many areas, including the issue of Letters of Guarantee with Turkish banks. We have also agreed in principle to establish a Libyan Turkish Commercial Bank. We also discussed several important points with the Prime Minister, including the return of Turkish companies to complete the projects they have been assigned and have been suspended since 2011''.
Call on Turkish companies to work with Libya's private sector
The Chairman of Tripoli Chamber also reinforced the ambitions of this visit for both Libyan and Turkish sides by calling on the Turkish companies attending these events to cooperate with their Libyan private sector counterparts operating in the construction sector, which many rely on to effectively contribute to adding the necessary momentum to the massive construction phase the country is witnessing.
He also emphasized that the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce and Industry is always ready to serve companies by coordinating bilateral meetings and providing the economic and investment information necessary to achieve their goals.
Turkish companies wish to be active in Libya's construction revolution
For their part, representatives of Turkish companies expressed their happiness with the results of this visit, stressing that they will have an active and distinguished presence in the construction and reconstruction revolution currently taking place in Libya, and will leave their mark on roads, dams, airports, and housing developments throughout Libya.
Trade Minister meets Aldabaiba
It is worth noting that the Turkish Trade Minister, and his accompanying delegation, had earlier held a meet with Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, during which they were briefed on the results of the meetings of the Libyan Turkish Technical Committee currently being held, which addressed economic issues of common priority and interest.
.
Turkish Trade Minister to lead construction and infrastructure delegation to Tripoli from 29-30 April
Turkish trade delegation to visit Libya this April
Minister of Economy and Trade follows up on trade with the private sector in Turkey
Turkish Trade Minister to lead construction and infrastructure delegation to Tripoli from 29-30 April
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

CBL to bring FX rate of dinar to less than LD 7 per US$: CBL Governor Issa
CBL to bring FX rate of dinar to less than LD 7 per US$: CBL Governor Issa

Libya Herald

time3 hours ago

  • Libya Herald

CBL to bring FX rate of dinar to less than LD 7 per US$: CBL Governor Issa

The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) will use all its capabilities to bring the foreign exchange (FX) rate of the Libyan dinar (LD) to below LD 7 per US$. At one point, the LD was trading at LD 7.65/dollar yesterday. The statement was made by CBL Governor, Naji Issa, yesterday during what the CBL described as ''an extensive'' meeting with representatives of newly licenced FX companies and FX bureaux.‎ These licenced FX bureaux had not existed before with foreign currency being sold informally, but in open view on the road running parallel and behind the CBL in Tripoli, on the edge of the Old City and Souk. The newly licenced FX bureaux have not started operating yet as they await CBL activation and the deposit of hard currency into their accounts. In his speech at the gathering in a top Tripoli hotel, Governor Issa admitted that some people may lose out because of the LD trading at less than LD 7/dollar. But added that some traders consider it a matter of stubbornness and may bring the LD exchange rate to LD 8 or 9/dollar to thwart the reform policies pursued by the CBL. Regarding criticism aimed at the failure of the CBL to control the FX black-market, Issa said some say the CBL's management has failed, but the truth is that only the state and the citizen will fail. ‎CBL attempting to end black-market FX market The CBL said the meeting comes within the framework of its continuous efforts to regulate the FX market and activate the role of the private sector in providing financial services – but in accordance with clear legal controls and standards.‎ ‎Licenced FX bureaux must adhere to CBL controls During the meeting, the Governor stressed the importance of all licensed ‎‎companies and offices adhering to the controls and instructions issued by the CBL, to ensure transparency and stability in financial transactions. He stressed that the licensed activity represents a key pillar in combating the parallel market and regulating the flow of foreign currencies through official channels. Without disclosing any further details, he revealed that several supporting measures will be announced later. ‎ ‎During the gathering, the Governor also listened to the remarks and interventions of several representatives of FX companies and bureaux, and discussed with them the challenges they face, stressing the readiness of the CBL to cooperate closely with all concerned parties to support this important economic activity.‎

Aldabaiba hails new instant salary payment system for controlling waste in the state-sector section of the budget
Aldabaiba hails new instant salary payment system for controlling waste in the state-sector section of the budget

Libya Herald

time3 hours ago

  • Libya Herald

Aldabaiba hails new instant salary payment system for controlling waste in the state-sector section of the budget

Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, said today that adopting digital transformation in the state-sector payroll management through the 'Your instantaneous Salary' system is not only a technical option, but a national necessity to protect public money first, and to do justice to real workers in state institutions. Aldabaiba was referring to the announcement by the Central Bank of Libya (CBL), last Thursday (31 July), of the launch of the 'Your / Instant Salary Payment' system to transfer the salaries of public sector employees directly into their bank accounts.‎ Automatic employee data matching The system adopts automatic matching of the data of employees at the Ministry of Finance and the Banking Information and Systems Authority without the need for traditional, slower and less accurate payment methods. ‎Call on citizens to update their data The CBL confirmed that it is working to complete the technical link with commercial banks and the personal data system, calling on citizens to ensure that their data is up to date to ensure the readiness of the service by the end of August.‎ Abuse of the system It will be recalled that the payment of state-sector salaries is routinely late by one or two months. It is also widely believed that many thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, on the state payroll should not be on it. Some are receiving multiple salaries, some are working in the private sector simultaneously, some do not turn up to work, while others are still being paid after having passed away. Hence Aldabaiba's use of the phrase 'to do justice to real workers in state institutions'. Successful inter-departmental integration Meanwhile, the General Information Authority (GIA), the lead government body on digital transformation, commended this move and integration between various departments and the CBL. It said this integration reflects the maturity of Libya's digital infrastructure and promotes the process of building an interconnected and efficient digital government.‎ ‎State-sector salaries: aim for transparency and efficiency of spending Aldabaiba said these state-led fiscal reforms in cooperation between the Ministry of Finance and the CBL aim to ensure transparency and efficiency of spending under the salary section, which accounts for 55% of public spending, and is one of the government's priorities to ensure social and economic stability.‎ ‎Shall not allow the salaries section of the budget to be misused Aldabaiba said paying state-sector salaries on time and not delaying them in all circumstances is also an important commitment in his government's work which they have not and will not deviate from. However, he said state-sector entities exploiting the salaries section of the state budget to justify unallocated expenses, expenses unrelated to employment, or paying salaries to individuals who do not perform jobs within legal entities, while thousands of actual employees are waiting for the release of their first salary, is what this step will address. He said this new system will give more opportunities for these quick and accurate salary releases, and will stop the exploitation of the salary section, and the continuation of the system inherited decades ago of wasting public money decades ago.‎ ‎Instant and speedy employee data entry I commend the efforts of the Central Bank of Libya, and affirm the government's commitment to the success of this step, and we hold the legal entities responsible for immediate compliance with the entry of their employees' data accurately and without delay, and I call on the Audit Bureau and the Administrative Control Authority to support the 'Your salary is instantaneous' system to enhance direct control over actual employment and related spending.‎ . CBL introduces the state sector Instant Salary Payment System Tags: CBL Central Bank of Libyadigital transformationstate-sector salaries

This gorgeous Central Asian country just extended visa-free travel to 56 countries
This gorgeous Central Asian country just extended visa-free travel to 56 countries

Time Out

time4 days ago

  • Time Out

This gorgeous Central Asian country just extended visa-free travel to 56 countries

Good news for spontaneous adventurers, curious globetrotters, and business travellers: Kazakhstan has expanded its visa-free policy to include a whopping 56 countries, effective immediately. So, if you hold a passport from Thailand, Vietnam, the US, the UK, and beyond, you can now enter Central Asia's largest nation for up to 30 days while skipping all the fuss with paperwork. With this move, Kazakhstan hopes to attract business travellers, digital innovators, and, of course, travellers. Its tourism profile is undoubtedly rising – the country welcomed over 7.5 million visitors in the first half of 2025, an 8.7 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024 – and expanded visa-free access will only boost visitor numbers further. Whether you're eyeing a trip to the futuristic capital of Astana, the historic sights in Turkistan, or the otherworldly landscapes near Almaty, Kazakhstan just got a lot more welcoming. So, here's what you need to know about the country's new visa regime. Who can enter Kazakhstan visa-free? Europe (34 countries): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Vatican City Asia (9 countries): Indonesia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam Middle East (6 countries): Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates Americas (5 countries): Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States Oceania (2 countries): Australia and New Zealand Need to know before you go Effective immediately, passport holders from eligible countries can enter, stay, and exit Kazakhstan without a visa. Just note that stays are limited to 30 calendar days per visit, with a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. There are some special cases: Indian and Iranian citizens can stay visa-free for up to 14 days per visit, with a total of 42 days within 180 days. Turkish citizens get to stay for a whopping 90 days visa-free, thanks to close bilateral ties between the two countries. What does this mean for travellers from Asia? Time to pack your bags for Kazakhstan is what it means. Several Asian countries already offer direct flights there, including Thailand, Vietnam, India, China, and South Korea – and the number is growing every day. Now that access is visa-free, a trip to Kazakhstan could be as simple as a hop over to your favourite weekend destination. But let's be real, you'll want to spend a lot more time in Kazakhstan. Why Kazakhstan should be on your 2025/26 hit list Kazakhstan is the ninth-largest country in the world, and the largest landlocked one. In other words, it's massive, with plenty to explore. The country is home to some seriously unspoiled nature, with diverse landscapes ranging from deserts and canyons to mountains and jewelled lakes. These can be explored with guided tours (which we recommend booking far in advance) or, for the daring, by yourself in a rented car. Some top nature attractions include Altyn-Emel National Park, Kolsai Lakes National Park, and Charyn Canyon. Kazakhstan is also a dream for culture and history buffs. There's the ancient Silk Road town called Otrar, majestic mausoleums like the Mausoleum of Khamaja Ahmed Yasawi, and in stark contrast, fabulously futuristic cities such as Astana, with striking landmarks like the Baiterek Tower.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store