Full UK visa service resumes in Libya

I am pleased to announce that the UK has now re-opened its a full visa service in Libya, after the service closed in February 2011.

Libyans are now able to apply for their UK visa at the Visa Application Centre in Tripoli.

Minister for North Africa Alistair Burt said:

“I am delighted that Libyans wishing to travel to the UK can now apply for their visa in Tripoli.

“This move will further enhance the growing relationship between our two countries and will promote stronger political, economic and cultural ties. There has been sustained progress in all these areas over the past six months and I am confident this will continue. Better transportation is an important driver of this, and I look forward to the resumption of direct flights between the UK and Libyan as soon as possible.”

From today, Libyans will be able to apply for the full range of visas – including for business, education, family visits or tourism. Libyans who wish to transit at a UK airport need to apply for a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV), unless they are travelling to or from the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

Source: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Moving Ahead In Libya

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Libya's Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib, March 8, 2012, at the State Department in Washington

Hillary Clinton reports improvements in Libya's government, private sector and civil society.

It has been four months since Libyan rebel groups ousted brutal dictator Moammar Gadhafi. During that time, the interim Libyan government has been hard at work putting the country back together.

Following a recent meeting with Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim ElKeib, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said there has been progress in three key areas: building an accountable, effective government; promoting a strong private sector; and developing a strong civil society.

On the government front, the interim leadership in Libya has established an inclusive election law and set up a supreme elections commission with the goal of holding constitutional assembly elections in June. This is a critical first step that will pave the way for a new constitution grounded in democratic principles.

The United States stands behind the elections commission as it works to meet its deadlines so Libyans can ultimately elects a fully democratic parliament that can begin delivering results for all Libyans.

The United States is encouraged by the prime minister’s commitment to build an environment that respects and protects human rights and rule of law. The Libyan government committed to investigating and holding accountable those responsible for human rights violations, which will build a foundation for respecting all people, including the most vulnerable. The U.S. offered assistance in addressing human rights concerns and continues to support emerging Liyban activists, including women.

The United States is also working with its Libyan partners on border security, migrant treatment, integrating militias, and working toward national reconciliation.

At the same time, on the economic front, business is picking up. Libya has exceeded all expectations in resuming oil production after the end of hostilities last year. The U.S. and United Nations have removed almost all restrictions on doing business in Libya and the U.S. is encouraging American companies to look for opportunities to invest in Libya.

The U.S. is also supporting the new civil society that is developing in Libya. The U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative and the United States Agency for International Development Office of Transition Initiatives are working with many civil society groups on various transition issues.

The United States is also working to find ways to promote partnerships and exchanges in the health field in order to assist the war wounded.

The United States looks forward to working with the Libyan government and people to make progress on behalf of a new, free, and democratic Libya.

Source: Voice of America

Oil executives in Nigeria earn more than counterparts in UK, Libya, others -Research

A typical oil and gas executive in Nigeria earns nearly half a million dollars a year, chalking up the biggest premium for working abroad over salary levels in Britain, research released on Monday showed.

A typical senior oil and gas employee in Nigeria will receive a supplementary country premium worth 45 percent of base pay, taking the total salary to $454,400 a year, a study by the Curzon Partnership recruitment consultants showed.

This trumps packages for executives working in Libya or Iraq, who could expect a total salary of around $354,900, the research found.

Oil and gas workers from developed nations working in Nigeria are paid well because of the number of projects that need international staff, local skills shortages and big cultural differences, the firm said.

"Whilst Lagos is an exciting and well established place to work for expats, oil & gas companies recognise that the incentives have to be high, because life as an expat in Nigeria is so different from countries with broader industries and higher standards of living," Helen Di Mauro, a partner at the Curzon Partnership, said.

Oil industry executives in Indonesia can expect a premium of 40 percent in Indonesia, 35 percent in Ghana and 30 percent in Libya, Kurdistan or Egypt, the research found.

-Reuters

Libya: A Market of Opportunities

This is the full interview I made with Global Trader where I talked about the opportunities Libya will be offering and of course the challenges but generally, I am very optimistic about the future of Libya

"FEW people have better first-hand knowledge of the business landscape in Libya than Tarek Alwan. The 38-year-old managing director of SOC Libya Ltd may live in London, where

his company is headquartered, but he’s a Libyan national who has been back to

Tripoli twice since the fall of Gaddafi. And it’s that level of local expertise and empathy with the market which he believes gives SOC Libya the edge. The company, an independent advisory and services consultancy that assists and supports international companies entering the Libyan market, was formed in 2008 by Libyan, English and German professionals, and also has a Tripoli office.

Global Trader spoke to Tarek in December, while he was in Tripoli, where he said he found the city “much safer than expected.”

“Things are improving gradually and it’s amazing to see people just getting on with their lives. The new interim government has already been formed and it is slowly progressing,” he said. “There are a few gunshots here and there by overenthusiastic young fighters, but measures are being taken to stop that.” Tarek, of course, has seen Libya in all its many hues – from being a land of limitless opportunities to one cowering under the tyranny of a dictator and his sons. There were times when British companies found it impossible to do business there, followed by times when they were enticed by promises of it being the new Klondike. Now the country stands at another important crossroads, but Tarek is cautiously optimistic that it will take the right direction and fulfill its potential.

“With all our natural resources and the skills and education of the young population, we can be the most prosperous nation in Africa,” he says. “You can see it happening now, but it will take time.” The British government, through UK Trade and Investment, is encouraging companies to enter the Libyan market before rivals from other countries fill the vacuum. Tarek agrees that that there are many opportunities across a whole range of sectors, with health being one of the most promising.

“There is a great need for hospitals and medical supplies, along with construction, because of what happened to the cities during the conflict,” he said.

“Oil and gas, as you would expect, is still the main driver of Libya’s economy, but there are opportunities, too, in infrastructure, communications, IT, education and services. In fact Libya requires everything from A-Z.” But quite apart from the fact that his company is specifically designed to facilitate trade between foreign companies and Libya, Tarek believes that it would be foolish for Brits to enter the market without doing the best research.

“Unless British companies get help and assistance, and perhaps link up with local partners, it can be very challenging, costly and time-consuming, and ultimately doomed to failure. My advice is to do lots of preparation work and decide what are the best options, either by forming a partnership or a joint venture. Preparation work can include establishing contacts with end users in the country.” And once there, Tarek is confident that British people will find that reconciliation rather than recrimination is the order of the day on the streets. “Generally the mood is good, with all Libyans eager to restore harmony, in spite of some of the former divisions, although this is not going to happen completely overnight,” he said.

● SOC Libya provides the following services: Finding the right business partners, promoting international companies, registering companies, opening branches or representative offices, due diligences, arranging business missions to Libya, appointments setting, drafting & negotiating contracts, implanting agreement and contracts, market research & analysis, assisting business Improvement, ongoing support, consulting on law issues, regulations, tax and legal opinions. Visit www.soclibya.com/

No more Arabic Translation to passports required!

The Libyan Government (General People’s Committee) has officially announced that an Arabic Translation is NO longer required for obtaining visas to Libya. All Libyan Embassies abroad have been notified by official letters.

This is another good step Libya took towards making visa process much easier. Now travellers to Libya can now submit visa application without the need to worry about it.

Furthermore, Libya recently introduced a single entry business visa which can be obtained at Airports.

SOC Libya gained the news from reliable Libyan officials.


Photo taken from Temehu website