In lawless eastern Libya, U.S. mission just latest victim

By Hadeel Al Shalchi and Marie-Louise GumuchianReuters
International treaties are clear. The Libyan government had a duty to protect the U.S. consulate in Benghazi and it failed utterly when the compound was overrun and four Americans, including the ambassador, were killed.

Libya's problem though, runs far deeper than just diplomatic protection: interim governments have barely governed, and the latest prime minister - named hours after the U.S. mission was torched - has no effective army or police force at his command.

A year after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, the legacy of four decades of one-man rule - when many formal institutions of statehood withered - and of the popular uprising that killed him, is that an anarchic swarm of militias provides both what passes for official security and poses the main threat to it.

For a year, Libyan leaders, backed by the Western allies, have been gambling they can forge a political consensus which will seize power back from the heavily-armed revolutionaries in the streets before rivalries spin irretrievably out of control.

That time may be running out seems most evident in Benghazi. The consulate attack was only the bloodiest and most recent violence in Libya's second city; the seat of last year's February 17 revolution, it has a history of militant Islam, previously directed against Gaddafi, and deep grievances over western Libya's control of oil pumped out of the east.

As one member of the General National Congress, the interim parliament, put it - so bluntly that he did not wish to say it publicly - the state can probably do no more than contain the mayhem for now, still hoping it can build up its own strength:

"As the saying goes, 'If you can't solve the problem, manage it'," he said. "We need to manage it."

Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagour, elected by the Congress on Wednesday, said establishing the power of the state was still a priority: "We are going to work very vigorously to build our police force, our army," he told Reuters in an interview.

"We have to deal with these militias because some of them have nothing to do with the revolution, and are made up by a bunch of criminals. We have to dismantle them."

However, the failure of successive efforts since last autumn to persuade the ex-rebel militias to disband and disarm, or to transfer loyalties clearly to the interim leadership, itself a fractious body, has left many skeptical of future prospects.

"There is no shortage of weaponry in Libya, but there is an enormous deficit of state capacity," said Geoff Porter, an independent U.S. analyst of North African affairs.

"The gamble for the Libyans was that they would get their political house in order before the security environment became too difficult to contain. The government has lost that bet."

WILD EAST

In Benghazi, the local protection for the U.S. consulate in Libya's oil capital, fulfilling Libya's obligations under the Vienna Conventions on diplomatic missions, was provided by an outfit known as the February 17 Brigade, a collection of young men with rifles proud of their exploits last year in chasing Gaddafi's army west across the desert, aided by NATO bombers.

A second layer of official public order in Benghazi comes courtesy of Libya's Shield, another paramilitary unit born in the revolution and drafted in, ad hoc, by the new leadership.

But as events on Tuesday evening showed, the pro-government forces have far from secured the monopoly on violence which is a key definition of statehood. Others also helped themselves to the weapons left by Gaddafi's disintegrating army and seem prepared to use them against Western and Libyan targets.

When a furious demonstration, emulating a similar embassy protest in neighboring Egypt over an American-made film insulting to the Prophet Mohammad, turned into an assault with machineguns and grenades on the Benghazi consulate, the couple of dozen Libyan guards offered little resistance, Libyan officials in the city said. Outgunned, some guards may also have decided on their own that wrecking the embassy was justified - several Libyan commanders said Washington deserved to suffer.

Among those identified by local people in the crowd were members of a hardline Islamist group, Ansar al-Sharia. Part of a wider Salafist movement that favors a fundamentalist religious state and appears to have some past contact with and sympathies for al Qaeda, Ansar al-Sharia has been accused of involvement in several violent incidents in Benghazi in recent months.

Since Gaddafi fell, there have been fears that some of his weaponry, and enemies, will end up in a wider anti-Western militant movement across north Africa. But such militants are not alone in providing a platform for popular anger in the east against Tripoli's politicians and their allies abroad.

Life and business in Benghazi has been disrupted by sporadic violence and demonstrations, often accompanied by demands for greater autonomy or investment in the east, separated from Tripoli by historic tradition and 1,000 km of desert highway.

"The people who demonstrated in front of the embassy were seriously depressed about their daily lives in Benghazi and not just angry over the film," said Nasser Ahdash, a political analyst living in the city. "The film added to it. But people feel depressed. People need jobs, hope and a feeling like they're not forgotten by the central government.

"If you start with one hardliner, you will get three in Benghazi when they have this depression from seeing that all the economy, the embassies, are in Tripoli, companies are in Tripoli, all the contracts are in Tripoli," he added, arguing that the new government should improve an economic balance which Gaddafi had tilted heavily away from the east of the country.

Saleh Gaouda, a member for Benghazi of the two-month-old Libyan Congress, also blamed the interim authorities for a failure to impose order in the east and to delegate power to local leaders: "The security breaches we are seeing in Benghazi are a direct failure of the government," he said.

"There is no one on the ground in Benghazi who can make the right decision at the right time ... There is no one who can take control of the situation and actually take responsibility."

The immediate impact of the violence is a clear heightening of caution on the part of foreign diplomats and business people, who had already been taking great care in Benghazi following attacks that included a grenade ambush which blasted the convoy of the British ambassador in June. Libyan officials assured diplomats that the security brigades would protect them.

But the killings at the consulate have set back Benghazi's hopes of investment and international favor: "Certainly you will have people questioning whether to go there," one diplomat said. "The overall feeling is one of caution right now."

Tarek Alwan, whose consultancy SOC Libya advises foreign firms on doing business in the country, said: "The impact is great and will lead to more restrictions on travel, higher travel insurance, on development.

"Libya in general and Benghazi specifically will suffer -because we should never bite the hand that helped us."

Security Fears Cloud Libyan Oil Growth

By BENOÎT FAUCON, WSJ

Heightened security fears after the killing of the U.S. envoy to Libya will further slow the return of foreign oil workers to the country, potentially threatening Libya's plans to boost oil output and grow its economy, according to oil company executives and consultants.

"It's a serious blow to Libya in terms of security," said Tarek Alwan, head of consultancy SOC Libya, which advises international companies investing in the North African nation. "It will delay the return of international oil companies and expatriates."

Oil companies were beefing up their security precautions on Wednesday in the aftermath of the killing of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other American diplomats by suspected religious extremists in the eastern city of Benghazi. One European oil company told visiting foreign staff to stay at their Tripoli hotels as a precautionary measure, according to a Libyan oil professional.

Following the ousting of Moammar Gadhafi last year, Libya has surprised analysts by bringing its oil production close to pre-revolution levels much faster than analysts had expected.

Foreign oil companies with production interests in Libya—such as Germany's Wintershall AG, Eni SpA ENI.MI -0.33% of Italy and Total SA FP.FR -0.35% of France—have sent back expatriate workers.

But even before the U.S. envoy's killing Tuesday, attacks on Western interests in June and political protests this summer had already caused some oil-service companies and those with exploration concessions to revise their staffing plans for Libya.

That threatened the country's plans to boost output to 2.2 million barrels a day over the next three years, up 40% from present levels. Such an increase would be enough to overtake Angola to become the eighth largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Back in July, Libyan production dropped by 200,000 barrels a day for a short period when protests over parliamentary elections disrupted operations at the country's largest terminal in el-Sider, in eastern Libya.

When it resumed its operations in May, BP BP.LN -0.45% PLC, which has by far the largest exploration plans in Libya, involving investment of $900 million, said the move would pave the way for a return of its expatriates. But three months on, a spokesman for the British company said it had yet to send its foreign staff back because the situation isn't considered safe enough.

Mr. Alwan said he knew of one international consultancy active in the oil sector had that pulled out completely from Benghazi, the capital of Libya's eastern region where the majority of the country's oil is produced, after a British diplomatic convoy was attacked in June.

When foreign staff return, Libyan oil managers say they are sometimes guarded by armored convoys when traveling to and from the airport. Restaurants where they plan to dine are checked first by security guards.

Once Libya accelerates plans to boost production, the reluctance of foreign oil workers to return could leave the country short of specialists in gas-injection equipment—needed to boost production from existing fields—and geologists and seismic workers needed for exploration of new fields, according to a Libyan oil manager at a large European oil operation.

Still, some Libyan officials are hopeful that the formation of a new government—expected to take place soon following elections in July—will lead to serious measures to improve security.

The tragedy "will be an incentive to be more dedicated about security," said Ahmed Shawki, head of marketing at the state-owned National Oil Co. "Other [oil-producing] countries had a worse situation," he added. "Look at Iraq."

A Libyan miracle emerging from the Arab uprising

MEED’s Libya Focus Day highlights the business and project opportunities arising in the post-Gaddafi era

MEED’s remarkable Libya Focus Day in Dubai on 16 May brought together four representatives of the National Transitional Council (NTC), a heterodox group of Libyan business people, and dozens of uncertain foreigners wondering whether reconstruction in a country wrecked by four decades of dictatorial rule will ever come.

The Libyan business opportunity nevertheless has rarely looked more compelling. Oil production is expected to return next month to levels last seen before the start of the uprising that ended Muammar Gaddafi’s regime. Libya can expect to earn at least $45bn from oil exports this year and its economy should return to its 2010 position. Gaddafi’s austere rejection of credit means the new regime’s got obligations, but practically no debts.

The loss of life and property during the uprising was severe and many suffered permanent injuries. But the damage done to the infrastructure was essentially superficial. As Libyans living in Libya never tire of saying, Libya in 2012 isn’t like Iraq in 2003.

Internal divisions will take longer to repair. Practically no Libyan with professional, management or business skills can escape the charge that they at least silently accepted the previous regime’s excesses. But a divide has nevertheless emerged between those that kept their heads down until Gaddafi was dead and the minority that rebelled before.

It expressed itself during the Libyan Focus Day and was voiced by Libya’s ambassador to the UAE, Aref Nayed, who warned foreign companies to steer clear of business people with links to the previous regime that were hawking themselves as middle-men now. Nayed was talking about members of the audience he was addressing.

And yet, there was little rancour in the room. Everyone lost materially, morally or spiritually under Gaddafi. All Libyans, including his closest family members, were victims.

Suleiman Al-Fortia, NTC housing and utilities committee head, said a government capital budget of about $30bn had been approved for 2012 and that more large-scale investment was planned in the years to come. This was a huge opportunity for the domestic private sector and foreign companies ready to deal with Libya in a new and better way.

But the legacy of the past is inescapable for the hundreds of western firms that were encouraged by their governments to participate in the Libyan economy in the years following Gaddafi’s renunciation of weapons of mass destruction in 2003.

Aecom’s programme director for housing and infrastructure board projects, Christopher Toomey, said his company signed up for Libya’s housing projects in 2008 and continued working on them until the US government imposed sanctions on the regime in February 2011. With sanctions lifted following the end of the uprising on 23 October 2011, Aecom has been seeking to revive its contract. It says it’s still valid and relevant. Toomey said that revisions could lift its ultimate long-term value to $100bn.

The issue for Aecom and companies in a similar position is to secure the new regime’s blessing for Gaddafi-era contracts. Al-Fortia said that more than 10,000 companies are now being reviewed by a special body empowered by the NTC to terminate those deemed to have been secured through corruption or other unfair practices.

Clyde & Co’s Adrian Creed said that it would be impossible to carry out a review of so many contracts credibly and quickly. One way round the problem is to approve contracts that are already at least 70 per cent complete. Another is for contracts with Libyan businesses, most of them worth $1m or less, to be automatically cleared.

The impact of the review is obvious to recent visitors to Libya who say that idle cranes and incomplete projects are the defining characteristic of many Libyan towns and cities.

The good news is that doing business and setting up a branch or company in Libya is possible and comparatively straightforward. Commercial laws dating as far back to the Libyan monarchy, which lasted from 1951 until 1969, are viable and enforceable, lawyers say.

The most radical views were expressed by Husni Bey, the charismatic chairman of the Husni Bey Group. Bey dismissed the National Transitional Council as redundant in light of elections to a public national conference due in June; repeated his call for the 10,000 contracts to be reactivated immediately or scrapped and called for the role of the Libyan state to be radically reduced.

NTC deputy chairman Mustafa el-Huni, a pragmatist who addressed MEED’s previous Libya conference in Dubai in 2010, was emollient. “Moderation is the main principle we shall follow,” he said. “There are some contracts and agreements that need to be reviewed, but if this will be done within the spirit of mutual co-operation. We have no intention to nationalise or do anything radical, even if they are unfair contracts.”

Not every Libyan in the room agreed. But at least they were prepared to listen. By the standards of other states divided by the dramas of the Arab uprising, that was a Libyan miracle in its own right.

Source: MEED. the article: http://www.meed.com/sectors/economy/government/a-libyan-miracle-emerging-from-the-arab-uprising/3138170.article#ixzz1v8CtFSOk

Libya currently producing nearly 1.5 mil b/d crude: NTC official

Libya is currently pumping nearly 1.5 million b/d of crude and expects to achieve "normal" pre-war production levels of 1.6 million b/d by mid-2012, Abdulbaset Abadi, a member of the oil committee at the National Transitional Council, said Wednesday.

Speaking at the MEED Libya Focus Day in Dubai, he said Libya was seeking foreign assistance to raise the country's oil production capacity to 2.2 million b/d in 2015 and 3 million b/d in 2020. The country's current production capacity is estimated at about 1.6 million b/d.

International oil companies with production sharing contracts signed with the regime of the late Libyan dictator Qadhafi that are due to expire in 2012 will get contract extensions on account of Libya's 2011 revolution, Abadi said.

Libya plans to announce the structure of new enhanced production sharing agreements to replace the Qadhafi-era contracts in 2015, he said. 

Separately, NTC deputy chairman Mustafa el-Huni said Wednesday at the same event that Libya's 2012 budget assumes crude oil production of 1.5 million b/d and exports of 1.3 million b/d.

The national budget of Libyan Dinar 68 billion ($54.38 billion) for the 2012 calendar year, approved in February, is also based on projected natural gas output of 16 billion cubic meters this year, he told delegates.

The budget includes Dinar 38 million earmarked for development spending, including investment in civil and petroleum sector infrastructure, Huni said.

The NTC projects government revenues from the petroleum sector of about $45 million in 2012. The remainder of the budget will be funded from Libyan assets that were frozen in overseas accounts during the country's 2011 revolution, he said.

Huni reaffirmed Libya's intention to honour all agreements with foreign investors signed by the Qadhafi regime.

"We have no intention to nationalize or do something radical," he said.

"Libya is in essence a moderate country that will look at implementing moderate policies." Elections for a National Congress to replace the NTC are scheduled for June. The 85 members of the NTC have pledged not to run for office in order to minimize the transitional government's influence on the election, Huni said.

Abadi said in his presentation that a number of new oil and gas discoveries in Libya in 2009 and 2010, including 24 reported in 2010, had raised the country's proven and probable reserves to an estimated 45 billion barrels of crude oil and 55 Tcf of gas.

US Geological Survey data put the potential for further Libyan oil discoveries at more than 8 billion barrels, including 4.7 billion barrels of conventional onshore crude, while undiscovered gas potential was put at more than 43 Tcf, Abadi said.

He presented an encouraging picture of the current state of Libya's oil export facilities: while the terminal at the port of Sidra had been destroyed by pro-Qadhafi forces, there were no significant operational problems at Brega, Marsa or Tobruk, and only minor damage at Ras Lanuf.

The Libyan petroleum sector's major immediate requirements were the replacement of numerous 4X4 vehicles destroyed in the recent conflict, telephone and Internet services at oil and gas facilities, security services to protect expatriate workers and workforce housing, Abadi said.

The biggest short-term bottleneck was likely to be communications infrastructure, which would take some time to extend to remote oil and gas facilities, he said.

www.soclibya.com

Source: Platts  by Tamsin Carlisle,  and edited by Jonathan Fox

UK Companies Poised For Libya Work

British companies are gearing up to compete for billions of pounds worth of contracts in Libya as the oil-rich nation presses ahead with plans to restore its tattered infrastructure, including gas, housing, transport and utilities.

Ahead of elections for the new government expected to be held in June, businesses, officials and advisers are converging on London on Monday for a one-day conference on how companies can best position themselves to win a series of lucrative tenders expected to be awarded over the next few years, according to the Financial Times. 

Much of Libya’s infrastructure is in a dire state, with transport, banking, telecommunications, power generation, education, water and sewerage systems in poor condition even by regional standards. Although its oil extraction infrastructure is considered the jewel of its industrial base, its refineries are widely regarded as outmoded and in need of upgrading.

But Libya is also wealthy. Oil income exceeded $12bn in the first quarter of this year, according to official government figures, making reconstruction plans viable. UK Trade and Investment, which promotes British commercial interests abroad and is backing the conference, has estimated that the rebuilding of Libya could be worth $126bn over the next decade.

This conference was oraginsed by City and Financial and supported by many company and SOC Libya Ltd was one of them and its managing director Tarek Alwan was among the speakers.

For more information about the event please see below

http://www.cityandfinancial.com/conference/rebuilding_libya_2_discounted

Source: Financial Times and SOC Libya

www.soclibya.com  

Austrian OMV opens youth centre in Tripoli

The official opening of the Libya Youth Center in Tripoli, Libya took place on May 8, 2012. The psycho-social centre was initiated by OMV to offer the prospect of a more carefree future to children and adolescents who have suffered from acts of war and their consequences in Libya.

The primary goal of the center is to enable young people to work through their experiences with professional support.

To implement the center, OMV works with the Hilfswerk Austria International, a relief organisation with many years of experience and extensive knowledge in the field of development co-operation. The co-operation agreement was signed in October 2011 for a period of two years with a total budget of EUR 2.1 mn.

OMV and Hilfswerk Austria International worked closely with the National Transitional Council and local stakeholders during the project planning and implementation phase, and, after 24 months, the centre will be handed over to the Libyan authorities, who will continue to run it.

Speaking about the Libya Youth Center, OMV CEO, Gerhard Roiss, said: “True partners prove themselves during times of crisis. We have a responsibility towards the citizens of Libya as well as to our local staff. Just as we continued to pay our local employees during times of unrest even though production was halted, we are now helping the younger generation to overcome their fears and carry the hope of a better future.”

Since spring 2012, the psycho-social center has acted as a drop-in centre for distressed children and adolescents between the ages of six and 25. Both international and Libyan experts are working at the center to provide the bestpossible support and therapy to all visitors. In addition, psycho-therapeutic counselling and support, leisure and outdoor activities and educational programs (language courses, IT courses, etc) are provided, with a particular emphasis placed on the inclusion of parents and families.

Moreover, mobile teams carry out educational work in schools, hospitals and local community centres to help those affected overcome any inhibitions and fears. It is through the co-operation with schools and public institutions that we are able to carry out this additional support work outside the centre.

As there are only a few centres of this kind in Tripoli, the need for psychosocial support is particularly high. 260 children and adolescents are currently being given counselling and support and to increase this number further, training and education will be offered to local volunteers who are active in the social sector. The goal is to give support to around 1,200 children and adolescents in the next two years.

According to official estimates, the violent struggle has resulted in some 30,000 deaths, with tens of thousands wounded. Around 170,000 children and young people in Tripoli and Benghazi have been badly traumatized.

OMV Aktiengesellschaft

With Group sales of EUR 34.05 bn and a workforce of 29,800 employees in 2011, OMV Aktiengesellschaft is one of Austria’s largest listed industrial companies. In Exploration and Production, OMV is active in two core countries Romania and Austria and holds a balanced international portfolio. OMV had proven oil and gas reserves of approximately 1.13 bn boe as of year-end 2011 and a production of around 288,000 boe/d in 2011.

In Refining and Marketing, OMV has an annual refining capacity of 22.3 mn t and as of the end of 2011 approximately 4,500 filling stations in 13 countries including Turkey. In Gas and Power, OMV sold approximately 24 bcm of gas in 2011.

In Austria, OMV operates a 2,000 km long gas pipeline network with a marketed capacity of around 101 bcm in 2011. With a trading volume of around 40 bcm in 2011, OMV’s gas trading platform, the Central European Gas Hub, is amongst the most important hubs in Continental Europe. OMV further strengthened its position through the ownership of a 97% stake in Petrol Ofisi, Turkey’s leading company in the retail and commercial business.

Sustainability

OMV is a signatory to the UN Global Compact, and an active supporter to the values enshrined in its Code of Conduct. These include a strong sense of responsibility towards the social and natural environment, especially in economically weak regions.

OMV continuously addresses economic, environmental and social issues related to its business in a responsible manner. The company reports on its activities in a sustainability report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative Guidelines.

Hilfswerk Austria International

Hilfswerk Austria International is a humanitarian, non-partisan and non-denominational organization that is part of the Österreichisches Hilfswerk relief organization. It provides support for civilian victims of war and environmental disasters on a global basis as well as development co-operation. Under the motto “face-to-face with Austria”, the organization has successfully helped others to help themselves on a sustainable basis – on a professional, non-bureaucratic and local level, for many years. The organization’s focus is on people and their health, improving their chances of survival and supporting families - especially children.

17 employees in Vienna and 92 employees and 1,002 volunteers within the project countries provide the best possible support for people in need. Hilfswerk Austria International ensure that all donations are used carefully and effectively and adhere to strict accounting controls

Source: BI-ME , Author: Posted by BI-ME staff

Looking for investment opportunities in Libya

After 8-day visit, U.S. leaders predict a reviving nation ‘open for business’

The fall of Moammar Gadhafi has paved the way for the U.S. business community to invest in Libyaas the troubled Middle Eastern nation tries to rebuild itself after a civil war tore the country apart last year.

After a trip last month to the new Libya, the U.S.-Libya Business Association says the country would make a good investment for many American companies. The trade organization, along with some 20 member companies from the U.S., spent eight days there, meeting with government and business officials.

“The message they sent us very loud and clear is that Libya is open for business,” USLBA Executive Director Chuck Dittrich, who led the trip, told reporters Friday, “and we want the Libyans to know the U.S. is interested in doing business over there.”

The U.S.-Libya Business Association made the trip to assess the country’s needs and were told by Libyan officials that the country’s priorities are security, higher education and vocational training, and health care.

Mr. Dittrich said he was impressed with the country’s current level of safety, which will be crucial going forward if U.S. companies plan to invest there.

“Tripoli was much safer than I anticipated,” Mr. Dittrich said. “I did not feel a sense of tension in the air. It was very much a relaxed atmosphere.”

That said, “If you’re an American and you do get mugged, there’s no 911 to call,” he added.

Though Mr. Dittrich acknowledged that its well-organized oil industry is and will remain the life blood of Libya’s economy, he said the American business group also expects opportunities for investment to open up in infrastructure and tourism.

“Tourism is going to be another growing sector,” Mr. Dittrich said. “It’s a beautiful coastline that’s not developed.”

But for now, the U.S. business community is focused on building lasting relationships with Libyans.

“We didn’t go over there to sign contracts or immediately sell products,”Mr. Dittrich said. “We want to develop relationships with them.”

Dennis Thompson, vice president of U.S. business development at RMA Group, who also made the trip, agreed.

“You’ve got to have patience,” he said. “You’re not going to sign a contract the day you hit the ground. Nobody had any reasonable expectation that this post-conflict country was going to sign a contract in the first visit.”

Instead, “It’s a race to build confidence” and trust, he said.

Libya plans to start building its post-Gadhafi government in June, by electing a 200-member constituent assembly that will pick a 60-member panel to write a permanent constitution and submit it to a national referendum.

“The risk is, ‘What’s going to happen in June?’ ” Mr. Thompson said. “And then once the government is elected, what direction are they going to take?”

Source: The Washington Post 

SOC Libya's new website

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new website (www.soclibya.com) which went live last night (Sunday 29/04/2012) after a complete makeover. We have developed and edited existing contents and added new pages such as Case Studies, Our Team and Testimonials.

Here is a copy of “About Us” page

OC Libya is a London-based independent consulting, advisory and services company. It was founded in 2008 primarily to identify, assist & support international companies before and after entering the Libyan market and it exclusively covers most sectors of the Libyan market.

Whether you are making your fist sale of products or services, or expand your business in Libya, we offer you a reliable and strong basis to flourish in Libya. In addition we will assist you in developing a strategic market entry plan along with the best approach. We will make sure that your business objectives are successfully achieved.

For effective & successful operation in the Libyan market requires cooperation with reliable & trustworthy Libyan business partners. We are focused on enabling you to make the right choices and decisions to expand your activities or make volume sales of your products or services in the Libyan market.

Libya ex-Minister Shukri Ghanem dead in Danube River

The body of Libya's former Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem has been found in the 

Danube River, Austrian police say.

                                       

There were no signs of violence to Mr Ghanem's body, said a police spokesman. An autopsy has been ordered.

The former prime minister, 69, worked as a consultant for a Vienna-based company. He apparently left his home on Sunday normally dressed, police said.

He served as Libyan prime minister from 2003 to 2006 and then as oil minister until 2011.

Various Sources

Lufthansa German Airlines strengthens presence in Libya with increase of services to daily flights

As of 22 April, Lufthansa German Airlines is increasing its capacity between Frankfurt and Tripoli to daily flights from flying three times per week, boosting its presence in Libya to serve the growing travel demand.

“Within two months upon resumption of our operations in Libya, we are in a position to serve more passengers with our additional capacity complemented by our products onboard and on ground. More flights mean more choices for our customers. From our gateway in Frankfurt, business and leisure passengers can rely on our extensive global route network connecting to 216 destinations in 83 countries,” said Antonio Tassone, Lufthansa’s general manager in Libya.

Lufthansa flights are operated with an Airbus A319 aircraft in a two-class cabin configuration, featuring Lufthansa’s Business and Economy class.

Flt no Days of operation TIP, dep FRA, arr Aircraft type

LH1313 Daily 12:55pm 04:05pm A320

Flt no Days of operation FRA, dep TIP, arr Aircraft type

LH1312 Daily 09:05am 11:55am A320

For further information Lufthansa Sales office +218 (0) 21 3350375

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/118949711/Lufthansa-German-Airlines-strengthens-presence-in-Libya-with-increase-of-services-to-daily-flights?

Winning Business in Libya - a narrowing window of opportunity for business

On behalf of the City and Financial, with the support of UKTI and many organisations “SOC Libya Ltd is one of them”, we are pleased to invite you to attend of one this year largest events in the UK that will take place on 14^th May 2012 at London’s Park Hotel. (http://bit.ly/IzuX5Y)

  

The event will provide UK companies with a solid base to explore the potential of the Libyan market and will lead to support the development of the country. It will also be an excellent chance for Libyan businessmen, individuals and companies to meet with British companies in the hope of forming JVs and partnerships.

There will also be a great number of speakers who will share with you their insight and expertise on the market and best strategic market entry plans.

 The main focus of the event will be on the followings:

A Narrowing Window of Opportunity

With the Libyan elections due in June and contracts already being awarded and/or put out to tender, there is a rapidly narrowing window of opportunity for British companies to win business. This point was underscored by Raouf Ghali, Group President, Hill International when he said: “There are major opportunities from now until September …. Anyone who wants to be in Libya should be there now. Once the newly elected Government comes in the speed at which companies will be expected to go forward will be a very fast pace”

Finding Local Partners

If, as is expected, the existing Libyan rules for joint ventures which require 75% of employees to be local are maintained, then British businesses must be effective in knowing who they need to develop relations with, as well as knowing which contracts can be won.

An A-Z to Winning Business

Winning Business in Libya - A Practical Guide for UK Companies is designed to be both practical and highly focused on advising British companies about how they can position themselves so that they are well placed to win the contracts that will begin to be tendered after the election. The programme will offer a “what you need to know A-Z”.

The Political and Security Outlook

Although there are great opportunities in Libya it would be a mistake not to recognise that the political and security outlook for the country remains uncertain and that a number of factors will impact upon the Libyan business environment. These will be addressed by examining the current political environment and hotspots such as security considerations

and corruption risks.

The Conference in brief

• Finding and connecting with business partners in Libya

• Accessing trade finance for your export activity

• Key sectors and probable contracts within the sector

• Who you need to know in order to position yourself for the tender process

• How procurement will work (and how it will be different from the Gaddafi era)

• Understanding the emerging business and political context

• Workshops

o Oil & Gas

o Transport Infrastructure

o Health

o Education & Training

If you wish to attend kindly find the link below.

http://www.cityandfinancial.com/conference/rebuilding_libya_2_discounted

For further information please do not hesitate to contact the organisers directly as below

Nick Noakes

Marketing Director

City & Financial

8 Westminster Court

Hipley St

Old Woking

GU22 9LG

UK

T +44 (0) 1483 720707

F +44 (0) 1483 740401

E: NNoakes@CityandFinancial.com

W www.cityandfinancial.com

 Or

Virva Piippo

Conference Manager

City & Financial Ltd

Direct line: +44 (0) 1483 746 980

Email: vpiippo@cityandfinancial.com

I sincerely look forward to meeting you in person to further discuss any projects.

 Yours Sincerely,

Tarek Alwan

Managing Director

SOC Libya Ltd

T: 0208 9878450

M: 07774013043

E: info@soclibya.com

E: tarek@soclibya.com