Prime Minister of the Libyan Parliament-designated government, Osama Hammad held a meeting with the Minister of Tourism, Ali Gulma and the Minister of Investment, Ali Al-Saeedi.
During the meeting, they discussed the work plans of the two ministries, and the challenges and obstacles they face. As well as working on finding plans and programs to address.
The meeting comes as Libya is seeking to revive its tourism industry, which has been severely impacted by years of conflict and instability. The country is home to numerous historical and cultural sites, as well as natural beauty, that could attract tourists from around the world.
Libya relies on oil as the country’s almost sole source of income. Earlier this month, Hammad pledged to protect Libya’s oil revenues from misuse, stating that his government’s threat to stop the oil flow is a necessary measure to secure state finances.
In a call for respect for Libyan sovereignty, Hammad urged Richard Norland, the US Special Envoy to Libya, to refrain from aligning with any particular side. He emphasized the need for foreign interests not to overshadow the rights and concerns of the Libyan people and advised Norland against making media statements without fully understanding the reality on the ground.
Hammad criticized the US Envoy’s remarks as “blatant interference in Libyan affairs,” accusing them of fostering unilateral benefit at the expense of the Libyan public’s resources.
In May, Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced that crude oil revenues reached $1.57 billion dollars in May 2023, based on the NOC’s accounts at the Libyan Foreign Bank.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.
