Latest from Libya Herald
Libya Herald
20 hours ago
- Business
- Libya Herald
Libyan Italian Forum concludes with the signing of 98 MoUs
The Libyan Italian Forum (Benghazi, 25-26 June) concluded its second and final day yesterday with the Director General of the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund, Belgassem Hafter, signing ''several memorandums of understanding with 98 specialized Italian companies'', including IVECO, the manufacturer of trucks and heavy vehicles. The Fund reported that these memoranda covered vital areas related to reconstruction and development priorities, most notably: • Infrastructure • Energy • Engineering Consultancy • Finishing and decorations (contracting/construction) • Sea and air transport • Training, capacity-building and other areas 223 Libyan companies participated in B2B meetings The Fund said the forum witnessed wide participation of more than 223 Libyan companies in bilateral business sessions (B2B) in which logistical, legal and financial frameworks were discussed to facilitate the entry of Italian companies into the Libyan market and enhance cooperation and investment opportunities. The Fund said the signing of these memorandums also comes in the context of the strategic plan of the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund, which aims to enhance technical cooperation with international companies and provide an effective partnership environment that contributes to the reconstruction of Libya with a focus on localising knowledge and transferring expertise to national cadres through specialised training programmes. The forum also comes as part of its strategy to support the private sector and microenterprises and provide technical and logistical support to activate international partnerships and stimulate the national economy. The forum was organized under the auspices of the Hafter controlled Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund and in the presence of the Fund's Director General, Belgassem Hafter, the President of the National Development Agency, the Mayor of Benghazi, along with several eastern based official figures. On the Italian side the Italian Ambassador, the President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Consul General in Benghazi also participated in the event. . More than 100 business representatives arrive in Benghazi for the Libyan Italian Forum for Development and Reconstruction Italian airliner ITA lands at Benghazi's Benina airport for the first time in 14 years Libyan Italian Forum for Development and Construction to be held in eastern Libya in 2025: Belgassem Hafter
Libya Herald
20 hours ago
- Business
- Libya Herald
Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg
The Libyan Russian Economic Forum was launched in St Petersburg, Russia, yesterday, the Benghazi based Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reports. The forum, expected to continue for a week, included the participation of an official delegation representing the eastern Libyan authorities, along with several representatives of eastern based ministries and economic institutions, and a group of businessmen and investors from the two countries. The Benghazi based Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the forum aims to enhance economic and trade cooperation between (eastern) Libya and Russia, and open wide horizons for establishing strategic partnerships in vital sectors including industry, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and maritime transport. The programme of the forum includes specialised working sessions, bilateral meetings between representatives of the public and private sectors, in addition to presentations of Libyan investment projects to Russian partners. The forum will also witness the signing of memorandums of understanding and preliminary understandings in several areas of common interest. It will be recalled that in February this year the forum was held in Benghazi. . Second edition of the Libyan Russian Economic Forum to be held in Moscow and St. Petersburg from 18 to 22 May MoU signed at Libyan Russian Economic Forum in Benghazi Libyan Russian Forum to be held in Benghazi on 22 February Libyan and Russian ministries of health sign cooperation agreement in development, training and experience exchange Union of Libyan Chambers of Commerce and the Russian Chambers sign agreement Reopening of Russian consulate discussed with Benghazi based Libyan government Aldabaiba receives new Russian ambassador to Libya Aganin – embassy to reopen in August ( Libyan Railroads and Russian Railways discuss activating stalled Sirte-Benghazi rail project Minister of Oil and Gas Aoun discusses with Russian Ambassador Aganin activation of Libyan-Russian Ministerial Committee
Libya Herald
20 hours ago
- Business
- Libya Herald
First scheduled flight lands at Kufra airport – good news for Libya's wider aviation sector
The first scheduled flight landed at Kufra International Airport yesterday. The commercial flight arrived from Benghazi's Benina airport and was operated by Berniq Airways. Berniq announced that they will be operating two flights per week (Sunday and Thursday). The flight will provide a much needed convenient and speedy mode of transport to the city located in the deep southeastern corner of Libya in the Egyptian-Sudanese, Chadian triangle. Kufra airport is about 1,724 kms by road from the capital Tripoli and 1,025 kms from the regional eastern capital Benghazi. Ramifications of the operation of Kufra airport On a broader perspective, there are positive ramifications of the operation of Kufra airport for Libya's aviation sector and the use of its airspace by international carriers. The scheduled use of the airport reinforces that it is able to receive and set off flights to international aviation standards. This makes it more likely for international carriers to fly over Libyan airspace within Kufra airports footprint. Libya's remote Kufra Airport is witnessing numerous overflights by foreign carriers (Photo: Kufra Airport). Egypt Air emergency landing at Kufra Airport It will be recalled, and as reported by Libya Herald, that the state Libyan Company for Ground Services had reported that an Egypt Air flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Kufra Airport in January this year. The emergency was due to the sudden illness of one of the flight attendants on board. The flight attendant had suffered a drop in the level of blood sugar and high blood pressure. All necessary services were provided The Libyan Company for Ground Services reported that the preset emergency plan was provided and applied, and all necessary services were provided with high quality to the plane and crew. Ground services available 24/7 to all flights crossing Libyan airspace The Libyan Ground Services Company assured that the company's stations at all Libyan airports are ready to operate 24 hours to provide ground services to all flights of airlines crossing Libyan airspace. Good news for Libya's efforts to lift EU flight ban The news of the successful processing of the emergency landing of the Egypt Air flight at Kufra airport is good news for Libya. The Libyan government has been working hard over the last ten years to reinstate foreign carrier flights to Libyan airports – including flights crossing its airspace. Overflights provide valuable revenue Libya had been losing millions of US dollars' worth of revenue from fees for flights over its airspace. The successful Egypt Air emergency landing at the very remote Kufra airport should help allay fears and encourage more flights into crossing Libya's vast airspace. The government's efforts have come with success, with ITA Airways resuming direct flights between Tripoli and Rome in January this year. Other flights that have started or resumed over the last few months/years include, MedSky, Turkish Airlines, Egypt Air, and Royal Jordanian. . Kufra Airport continues to provide safe air navigation to foreign carriers over its isolated southeastern skies Transport Ministry celebrates safe Egypt Air emergency landing at Kufra airport and successful health relief offered to ill flight attendant Direct flights between Benghazi and Rome and Milan to be launched in early June ITA first regular scheduled flight arrives in Tripoli ITA confirms direct flights between Rome and Tripoli starting on 12 January 2025 On the day of first direct Tripoli to Rome flight, MoU signed between Libyan Civil Aviation and its Italian counterpart ( Direct flights from Tripoli to Rome to resume on Saturday ( Italian Airlines ITA test flight arrives from Rome at Tripoli's Mitiga airport with PM Aldabaiba onboard ( First flight between Rome and Tripoli to start tomorrow – ending a ten-year hiatus ( Libya must fulfil certain preconditions before flights to Italy resume by September – but flights could resume earlier ( Flights with Qatar to resume in October Libya and Qatar sign MoU to prepare studies for Tripoli International Airport investment project vision Libya and Qatar sign update to 2024 Air Services Agreement Qatari UCC and LIA discuss development of Mitiga's 10 million passenger eastern terminal Qatari Civil Aviation audit team inspects Tripoli's Mitiga airport with view to resume flights Qatar Civil Aviation to conduct Libyan airports inspection in October, signs MoU with Libyan counterpart ( Libya signs an initial air services agreement with Qatar – Qatar Airways to resume flights to Libya ( UAE Civil Aviation Authority visits Tripoli's Mitiga airport with view to resuming flights Libya and UAE sign MoU to lift air transport restrictions between the two countries Libya signs accession to the Constitution of the African Civil Aviation Commission of the African Union (AFCAC) Over 1,500 carriers fly over Libyan airspace monthly – latest airport audits were positive Arab Aviation Organisation visits Mitiga Airport for audit Libya and Spain discuss April's Spanish Libyan Economic Forum in Spain and resumption of direct flights Aldabaiba discusses with German Ambassador Tarraf resumption of Lufthansa flights Tripoli Foreign Ministry meets Austrian ambassador – resumption of direct flights and reopening of embassy are discussed Tripoli Foreign Ministry meets UK Deputy Ambassador – direct flights and visas discussed Turkish Airlines to start direct flights from Istanbul to Benghazi on 14 January Egypt's Air Cairo to start flights to Tripoli and Benghazi in mid-December Egypt's Nile Air to start Cairo to Sebha service ''this week'' ( After an 11-year hiatus, Sebha airport resumes international flights mid-November – to Cairo ( Aldabaiba follows up on airport construction projects, return of Egypt and Turkish airliners ( After a long hiatus, Egypt Air restarts cargo flights with Misrata Airport ( Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority and Egypt Air inspection team visits Mitiga, Misrata and Sebha airports to assess readiness for flight resumption ( After 8 year hiatus, Egypt Air cargo flight arrives at Tripoli's Mitiga airport ( Egypt Air to operate special flights between Tripoli's Mitiga and Sharm El Sheikh as of Tuesday ( After a ten-year hiatus: Royal Jordanian resumes flights to Tripoli Medsky flies first Berlin to Misrata flight ( Medsky to start flights from Tripoli to Malta ( Dutch embassy assesses security standards, rules and procedures at Tripoli's Mitiga airport ( Maltese Civil Aviation inspects Benghazi's Benina airport for possible launch of Medavia flights (
Libya Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Libya Herald
Aldabaiba and Menfi stress use of polling feedback to establish consensus basis for constitutional process: report and analysis
The President of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Menfi, and the Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, held what the Tripoli government referred to as an ''expanded meeting'' in Tripoli yesterday that dealt with ''several political, security and financial files of national priority''. Implementing security arrangements, consolidating the rule of law During the meeting, the Tripoli government reported, the two sides stressed the importance of implementing security arrangements, supporting the Tripoli Security Directorate, ending all manifestations of detention outside the judiciary, and subjecting all prisons to full jurisdiction in coordination with the Attorney General, as a basis for consolidating the rule of law and guaranteeing rights. Reorganise the competencies of security, military and justice institutions It was also agreed to reorganise the competencies of security, military and justice institutions, in a way that ensures that there are no conflicts in powers and competencies in accordance with the basic organisational structure, and in a way that supports the Ministries of Interior and Defence in performing their tasks in a safe and organized environment. Support of UNSMIL to enhance comprehensive national consensus The two sides renewed their support for the efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and stressed the importance of continuing coordination with it in the political and security tracks, to enhance the chances of comprehensive national consensus. To confront public spending that violate financial law and political agreement On the financial side, the two parties stressed the need to take joint measures to confront public spending that violate the financial law and the provisions of the political agreement, stressing the need for a unified budget, and for public funds to be subject to control mechanisms, prior planning, review and disclosure after contracts, in order to ensure respect for the people's right to knowledge and accountability. Popular referendum to establish popular consensus for constitutional path The two sides also reviewed the latest developments in activating the High Commission for Referendum and National Inquiry (political public opinion polling), and stressed the importance of conducting a broad, impartial and transparent popular referendum as soon as possible to establish any constitutional path based on a real popular consensus. Analysis and comment The desire by the Presidency Council to use political opinion polls / referendums is a new, proactive development. Historically, the Presidency Council has been seen as a dormant body. However, its ousting of the former Central Bank of Libya Governor, Sadek El-Kaber changed that perception. The removal of El-Kaber The legality of the initial removal of El-Kaber was questionable. According to the 2015 Libyan Political Agreement (LPA), and its subsequent alterations, the Presidency Council is a non-legislative body. Legislation is supposed to be enacted by the House of Representatives (HoR) – in consultation with the High State Council. The appointment of a CBL Governor, the head of the Audit Bureau and the Administrative Control Authority are the concern of the legislature and not the executive. It will be recalled that the Presidential Council had announced on 18 August 2024 that it had taken a unanimous decision to elect a new Governor of the CBL and form a new Board of Directors. This it claimed, came within the HoR Resolution No. 3/2018. This is the 2018 HoR law which had removed El-Kaber as CBL Governor – but the eastern based HoR was never able to enforce this removal in Tripoli. The Presidency Council appointment of a new CBL Governor was initially rejected by both Libya's recognised legislative bodies, the HoR and High State Council (HSC). However, on 26 September 2024 UNSMIL announced that the HoR and the HSC had agreed on the consensual appointment of the new Central Bank of Libya (CBL) Governor, his Deputy and the Board of Directors. The removal of El-Kaber set a precedent? This in effect set a precedent for the Presidency Council and Aldabaiba. Aldabaiba and Menfi feel they are constrained in their effectiveness by Libya's political quagmire set in stone by the 2015 LPA. Aldabaiba feels he needs a popular mandate to implement reform – especially controversial reform such as security reforms to confront militias. Several militias have ingratiated themselves in their city or region by projecting themselves as the local protector against other militias or even government security forces. The local and social support of militias This localisation of security (local militias) dates from the 2011 February Revolution that ousted the Qaddafi regime. Towns, cities and regions were left to fend for themselves for resistance to the forces of the Qaddafi regime or to militias of other towns, cities and regions, as well as ought right criminals. The militias use tribalism and regionalism to protect themselves from the high national aim of creating a unified national police and army controlled by the central government of the day. Aldabaiba emboldened by removal of El-Kaber? Emboldened by the removal of former CBL Governor El-Kaber without the legislation of the HoR or HSC, at the Third Ordinary Cabinet Meeting of 2024 held on 28 October in Tripoli – the first Cabinet meeting since El-Kaber's removal – Aldabaiba said: ''Changing the CBL's administration (the Governor and the board of directors) was inevitable, the first step in a series of deep reforms aimed at ending the absurdity and revitalising the Libyan economy. With this decision, I have irrevocably turned the page on individualism, temperament and political blackmail using the most important financial position in the country. The time of individualism and non-institutionalism has become a part of the past''. More pertinently to the relevance of using opinion polls to obtain a mandate for action, Aldabaiba further said ''We will not accept the extension of the current political bodies (parliament, the House of Representatives and the High State Council) and will not remain idle in front of the group that obstructs the elections. Going to direct elections that renew the legitimacy of all legislative and executive bodies is a red line for us''. He went on to say ''There are millions paid, weapons shipped, (foreign) media and intelligence tools working day and night, and receivables bought the aim of which is to undermine Libya's stability and hit its economy''. Use of opinion polls as a mandate It is Aldabaiba's refusal to allow the forces of the political status quo in Libya (the HoR, HSC and militias) to keep Libya in its current political quagmire that is behind the desire to use political opinion polls / referendums as quasi-elections to provide a mandate for action: We 'will not remain idle in front of the group that obstructs the elections'. As far as Aldabaiba is concerned, the HoR and HSC are only interested in maintaining the status quo. They wish to remain in power for as long as possible by delaying elections. This includes the move by the HoR to pass (using a minority of members) an election law that guarantees HoR Speaker Ageela Saleh and Hafter retain their posts if they are to lose in an election race. Aldabaiba hopes to wave the results of opinion polls at his opponents, be they the international community, the HoR, the HSC, militias and parts of the public. He hopes to use these popular mandates to implement strong, effective government, economic and security reforms. He wishes to use these opinion polls to by-pass and go over the head of the HoR and HSC – and indeed the 2015 LPA that installed them. Will the ploy succeed again? It remains to be seen if the opinion poll/referendum ploy will succeed. There is no doubt that a large segment of the Libyan public is tired of the political impasse that the country finds itself in. This political impasse is having a constraining effect on successive governments' ability to implement real reform and on the general public's standard of living. Can a poll / referendum be conducted across Libya? But while the Tripoli government may be able to conduct an opinion poll in western Libya, it is unclear if the eastern regime will allow such a poll to take place. If the polling is only conducted in the west of Libya, can this be considered a nation-wide mandate or just a regional mandate? And if it is only regional, is this adding to or taking away from the unification of Libya? Western Libya to go it alone? On the other hand, has Aldabaiba effectively given up on the international community, UNSMIL, the 2015 LPA and a united Libya and decided that western Libya must go it alone. Has he decided that it is no longer possible to expect Saleh and Hafter to allow elections to take place – ever? Tripoli will have to also convince the international community. Whilst they were able to get away with ousting CBL Governor El-Kaber, it is unclear if the unilateral move can be repeated in other scenarios. It was clear that El-Kaber had lost his credibility, and the international community were happy to see him removed. They may hold a different view on other political moves planned by the Tripoli administration based purely on opinion polls or referenda. Weak executives unable to reform The political split between western and eastern Libya with the internationally recognised government based in Tripoli and the HoR and its (internationally unrecognised) government based in Benghazi has meant that all these bodies are weak. This weakness has meant that no government has been able to implement the deep reform needed to launch the Libyan economy. It will be recalled that Libya is a centralised, socialist, rentier state highly dependent on its oil revenues. It is still operating the Qaddafi system it inherited in 2011. This Qaddafi system means the economy is highly centralised and dominated by the state – at the expense of the private sector. State-sector employment With high unemployment and higher still youth unemployment, the government must create at least 100,000 jobs every year. But the private sector economy is suppressed by the centralised, rentier system and is unable to create such a high number of new jobs annually. This forces the government into appointing thousands of youth to state-sector jobs – jobs that don't exist and that the country does not need. This has sent the state-sector jobs bill in the state budget skyrocketing to unsustainable numbers – at the expense of the creation of value-added jobs in the private sector. Opportunity costs The money used on the state-sector jobs budget is needed elsewhere and could and should be invested in other productive sectors instead. It should be used to train university leavers and finance SMEs instead. It should be used to improve health, education, and infrastructure. Reforming the banking system Another area that needs reform to kickstart the private sector is the banking sector. Libya's banking sector is also a legacy of the Qaddafi era. The legislative environment prevents banks from offering loans and finance to business as the laws do not guarantee the banks' ability to seek redress in the courts and confiscate property or assets in lieu of unpaid loans. Militias Finally, a state must have a monopoly on the legitimate use of force. Foreign companies, foreign airliners and embassies are reluctant to come and invest in Libya as long as there are strong, unaccountable militias in the country. Aldabaiba understands this and this is (one of) the reason he has recently had confrontations with militias. A political mandate to face-off militias gained through a strong popular opinion poll or referendum is one way to face-off militias.
Libya Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Libya Herald
Italian airliner ITA lands at Benghazi's Benina airport for the first time in 14 years
Benghazi's Benina Airport received yesterday the first Italian Airways ITA flight arriving directly from Rome, after a hiatus of nearly 14 years. The flight is considered by the eastern based Libyan authorities as the official launch by the carrier of its regular Rome to Benghazi service. The flight carried onboard the Italian Consul, the President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce, several Italian officials, in addition to representatives of more than 100 Italian companies. The arrivals will be participating in the activities of the Libyan Italian Development Forum to be held in Benghazi from 25 to 26 June. The eastern based Libyan authorities view the return of this service within the framework of a strategic plan supervised by the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund, headed by the Haftar family. The flight service is seen as a qualitative leap aimed at reactivating the infrastructure and enhancing the investment environment in the country. They report that the inauguration of this air route is the fruit of a series of meetings and meetings he held with several Italian officials and representatives of major Italian companies during the last period, which paved the way for this achievement. The resumption of this line represents an important gateway for the return of international companies and contributes directly to supporting comprehensive development efforts and the advancement of various sectors inside Libya. ITA flights to Tripoli suspended due to militia clashes It will be recalled, with some irony, that while ITA is launching its new service to Benghazi, it is still temporarily suspending its service to Tripoli after the breakout of militia clashes in the capital in May and June. ITA had commenced flights to Tripoli in January this year. ITA was also reported by Libyan officials to be planning direct flights between Libya and Milan ''soon''. . ITA to launch new Tripoli-Milan service Libya and Qatar sign MoU to prepare studies for Tripoli International Airport investment project vision Aldabaiba conducts inspection tour of the implementation of Tripoli International Airport's first terminal Over 1,500 carriers fly over Libyan airspace monthly – latest airport audits were positive UAE Civil Aviation Authority visits Tripoli's Mitiga airport with view to resuming flights Libya signs accession to the Constitution of the African Civil Aviation Commission of the African Union (AFCAC) Libya and UAE sign MoU to lift air transport restrictions between the two countries Arab Aviation Organisation visits Mitiga Airport for audit Libya and Spain discuss April's Spanish Libyan Economic Forum in Spain and resumption of direct flights Aldabaiba discusses with German Ambassador Tarraf resumption of Lufthansa flights Afriqiyah Airways and Libyan Airlines Managers, plus eight others – detained for deliberately operating flights that do not meet safety standards Tripoli Foreign Ministry meets Austrian ambassador – resumption of direct flights and reopening of embassy are discussed Tripoli Foreign Ministry meets UK Deputy Ambassador – direct flights and visas discussed ITA first regular scheduled flight arrives in Tripoli Transport Ministry celebrates safe Egypt Air emergency landing at Kufra airport and successful health relief offered to ill flight attendant Some recommendations at the Libya Aviation Forum on how to accelerate the lifting of the EU flight ban Libya and Qatar sign update to 2024 Air Services Agreement Qatari UCC and LIA discuss development of Mitiga's 10 million passenger eastern terminal Qatari Civil Aviation audit team inspects Tripoli's Mitiga airport with view to resume flights Qatar Civil Aviation to conduct Libyan airports inspection in October, signs MoU with Libyan counterpart ( Libya signs an initial air services agreement with Qatar – Qatar Airways to resume flights to Libya ( After an 11-year hiatus, Sebha airport resumes international flights mid-November – to Cairo ( Civil Aviation Authority holds workshop to prepare for ICAO visit – to eventually lift EU flight ban imposed on Libya Libya must fulfil certain preconditions before flights to Italy resume by September – but flights could resume earlier ( Libya must fulfil certain preconditions before flights to Italy resume by September – but flights could resume earlier ( Dutch embassy assesses security standards, rules and procedures at Tripoli's Mitiga airport ( Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority and Egypt Air inspection team visits Mitiga, Misrata and Sebha airports to assess readiness for flight resumption ( After 8 year hiatus, Egypt Air cargo flight arrives at Tripoli's Mitiga airport ( Italian Civil Aviation audit team inspects Tripoli's Mitiga airport ( Maltese Civil Aviation inspects Benghazi's Benina airport for possible launch of Medavia flights ( Berniq Airways adds fifth aircraft to its fleet – to increase destination ( Berniq Airlines to start flights to Dubai soon ( Greek delegation visits Benghazi's Benina airport to discuss resumption of flights with Athens ''soon'' ( Tunisian Civil Aviation and Tunis Air inspect Misrata Airport for possible start of direct flights ( Tunisian civil aviation and airlines delegation inspects Benghazi's Benina airport ( Flights between Athens and Benghazi to start on 2 March ( Berniq Airways to receive third aircraft within days ( Berniq Airlines' first Airbus A320 arrives in Benghazi's Benina airport ( Benghazi's Benina airport opens its new Berniq terminal – a BOT project financed by the private sector Bank of Commerce and Development ( Flights between Crete and Benghazi expected to start soon ( Medsky to start flights from Tripoli to Malta ( Medsky Airways adds a second Airbus 320 to its fleet ( Malta-based Libyan carrier Med Sky to start chartered flights from Misrata to Malta from 5 May ( Medsky flies first Berlin to Misrata flight ( Libya Civil Aviation Authority completes training of airport security supervisors – to meet requirements of International Civil Aviation Organization ( Libya discusses with ICAO progress on lifting European flight ban ( AENEAS AENEAS complains that Libya is blocking payments for Tripoli International Airport project Aldabaiba directs need to intensify efforts to complete Tripoli International Airport's terminal before end of 2024 ( Tripoli International Airport reconstruction 'will create local jobs' says Italian consortium ( Mystery Italian consortium given contract for Tripoli International Airport ( GNA Transport Minister-designate confirms Italian company to commence Tripoli International Airport construction early 2017 ( Minister of Transport meets Italian Ambassador – AENEAS passenger terminal implementation at Tripoli International Airport discussed ( Tripoli International Airport expected to be completed in 2024: Italian ambassador ( Italy's Aeneas starts work, Tripoli International Airport will be ready within 15 months ( Aldabaiba praises activation of seven domestic airports and start of work on Tripoli International Airport's terminal ( Transport committee and Turkish company assess damage to Tripoli International Airport: feasibility of old contracts assessed; new contracts considered ( GNA Transport Minister-designate confirms Italian company to commence Tripoli International Airport construction early 2017 ( Italian companies visit remains of destroyed Tripoli International Airport to offer reconstruction plan ( Tripoli International Airport in flames (
