Tunis, 19 June 2024 (ECA) – The ECA office for North Africa concluded today in Tunis (Tunisia), a capacity building workshop under the theme: “Opening the Door for Libyan Exports: Essential Role of Trade Support Institutions and Suggested Policy Tools for Supporting Libyan Exports.”
The four-day workshop sought to raise awareness on the importance of Trade Support Institution (TSIs) for export diversification; contribute to improving their ability to foster export diversification; and promote collaboration between TSIs, government bodies and the private sector.
Participants at the training discussed key topics including: How to strengthen institutional capacities in support to export diversification and private sector development; Best practices to increase the contribution of SMEs to the economy; Existing market and export opportunities and policy tools to support their development; and Logistical, financial mechanisms, and digital trade tools in support to export development. The workshop participants also developed a national roadmap for the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), while taking the legally binding commitments arising from the ratification into account.
Participants at the training included government officials and policy makers and trade support institutions such as chambers of commerce, industrial and sectoral federations, business associations, and trade promotion councils.
While Libya is one of the AfCFTA signatories, the country is yet to ratify the agreement. As highlighted in the Joint UN Libya Report, the Libyan economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas exports while being primarily reliant on the import of consumer goods due to an underdeveloped non-oil sector. ECA experts estimate that the creation of an enabling environment combined with a well-managed integration into the AfCFTA could provide Libya’s non-oil sector with markets to grow and meet both the needs of national and African consumers.
This workshop was part of a capacity building programme and a series of trainings provided by the ECA office for North Africa for the benefit of Libyan officials since 2022. The aim of which is to support the development and diversification of Libyan exports and economy, and assist in the implementation of the AfCFTA, through support to government and trade institutions on the one hand, and to enterprises, and especially women and youth led SMEs on the other hand.
Media queries
Houda Filali-Ansary - Communications Officer
ECA Office for North Africa
E-mail: filali-ansary@un.g
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org