Interview - MarcoPolis

Abdulmonem Ali Elhassadi, Chairman of General Desalination Company of Libya (GDCOL)
GDCOL currently provides less than 20% of the water supply in Libya as the main resource in the country is the Man-Made River. Mr Elhassadi hopes that Libya will concentrate on desalination rather than ground water in the future to come. The strategy of GDCOL is to have a desalination river; if there is a desalination plant at almost every 50km or every 100km, then they can connect them all and thus create a desalination river, a dream of Mr Elhassadi.

Libyan Ministry of Transportation: New deals for ports, airports, railways and road projects

August 8, 2013

Abdel-Qader Mohamed Ahmed Al-Ayib, Minister of Transportation of Libya
The infrastructure in Libya has been damaged in all areas during the revolution or during the pre-revolution period and all the projects have been detained, so the Ministry of Transport of Libya has to take on a huge reconstruction of the infrastructure in Libya. ADPI (Aeroports de Paris) have started their project for the Tripoli International Airport and a Canadian Lavalin is going to build the new Benina International Airport in Benghazi.

Libya Industry Interviews

Steel industry in Libya: Local market to drive steel demand despite global surplus

August 7, 2013

Dr. Mohamed Abdulmalik Elfigih, Chairman of LISCO (Libyan Iron & Steel Company)
When we look at the local market in Libya; we must consider that this is a transitional period, if we compare 2013 with 2012, the local market has improved a great deal, with increased demands every month. We also must consider that Libya in general will have increased demand. I consider Libya a virgin country in terms of infrastructure, and so we need a lot of projects.

Libya Investment Interviews

Misurata Free Zone: One of the Top Locations for Foreign Investors in Libya

August 7, 2013

Jamal A El-Ghirani, Investment General Manager of Misurata Free Zone
Misurata seems to be the most stable place and the most secure city at the moment. Misurata Free Zone as a company employs approximately 1,223 people. There are many investors on the ground in the free zone. The bottom line is that the free zone is trying to and has created a lot of job opportunities for Libyan youth; within 20 years there should be up to 80,000 job opportunities. The Misurata Free Zone receives business delegations all the time; ambassadors from foreign governments visit the zone on a frequent basis.

Libya Industry Interviews

Jotun Libya: Projects and outlook for construction and real-estate sector

August 7, 2013

Abdel Menem Abdel Aziz, Chairman of JOTUN (Libya)
JOTUN paints are famous throughout Libya and other parts of the world for their very high quality. “The service JOTUN provides makes us absolutely exceptional in our relationship with project owners. We see ourselves as their partners when it comes to paints or protection against corrosion. We are with them throughout the project; from the beginning until the end,” explains Mr. Aziz. The company is currently building a factory near the town of Zuwara, some 90km west of Tripoli. It is a factory that would deploy the latest technology JOTUN has deployed anywhere else.

Libya Tourism and Culture Interviews

Radisson Blu plans to open new properties in Libya

August 6, 2013

Volkan Vural, General Manager of Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel
Radisson Blu is planning on opening one more hotel in Libya. The group would like to grow and open new properties in Libya as they strongly believe in Libya. Their business is show business and instead of property Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel in Tripoli focuses on services. Mr Vulkan reveals Tripoli will certainly need more hotels in 2 or 3 years.

Libya Investment Interviews

Misurata set to become an economical landmark for investments locally, regionally and internationally

August 6, 2013

Dr. Elhusain Benahmida, Chairman and General Manager of Misurata Free Zone
Misurata Free Zone is a company with a capital of 600 million Libyan Dinars. The economical area is divided into two sections stretching over an area of 3,500 hectares.

Libya Banking Interviews

BSIC: Strategy in Africa

August 5, 2013

BSIC Bank (Banque Sahelo Saharienne Pour l`Investissement et le Commerce)
BSIC Bank is a regional bank in Africa and it has 14 affiliates in different countries in Africa. Four of them are Anglophone-Arabic affiliates and 10 are Francophone affiliates. The main currency of the bank is Euro. The authorised capital is about 750 million Euro. BSIC Bank is preparing to change its strategy and consolidate its commercial affiliates and start to do development banking through the head office.

Libya Foreign Investments Interviews

Libya: LAICO’s Investments in Africa Reached US$1.2 billion in 21 Countries

August 5, 2013

Bashir M. Elmadani, Managing Director of Libyan African Investment Company (LAICO)
LAICO at the present is well-known in Africa, because we are participating in over 21 countries in Africa. Our investments are mainly in the real estate and tourism sectors. The total of our current investments is approximately US $1.2 billion.

Libya Transportation Interviews

Libyan Airlines to become the leading airlines in Libya and surrounding region

August 1, 2013

Khaled Ben Alewa, CEO of Libyan Airlines
After the revolution and in fact during the revolution, the delivery of aircraft was postponed and we had to reschedule. Libyan Airlines are increasing their capacity with 3 A320s and 2 A330, thereby expanding their overall network. The Airlines are now flying to London, Manchester, Madrid and Malta while they are still oblidged to use leased aircraft. The company might also expand their routes to places further than Dubai in the eastern area. Once Libyan Airlines successfully adopted European safety requirements, the lifting of the EU ban should follow suit – probably by the end of 2013.