Libya: ‘Uncharted Market and the Growth Potential is Huge’

By Sami Zaptia

Investors with an eye for riskier ventures should ‘capitalise' on early-stage growth in the less-explored emerging markets’ such as Libya in the coming year – advised Singapore’s Asia One Business (www. business.asiaone.com).

The investment advice was given by Dr Thierry Apoteker, chief executive of economics research group T-A-C (Thierry Apoteker Consultant) Financial. He felt that ‘long-term strategies in these markets could give rich returns’ for investors.

By early stage growth, the analyst is advising investors to take advantage of what is often referred to as ‘first movers’ advantage’ in a relatively new market with minimal competition.

The investment adviser estimated Libya’s economic and financial risk at level 33, according to his company’s risk scale. He explained that emerging markets usually have a risk level of between 41 and 60. Countries with risk levels between 20 and 40 are considered safe for investment, he explained.

The risk ratings scores are based on numerous factors including the relative strength of the particular nation’s currency and its cross-border payments and activity, the investment adviser explained.

- Investors should capitalise on early-stage growth in Libya

- long-term strategies in Libya could give rich returns for companies.

- Libya's risk level was only 33

- Emerging markets typically have risk levels between 41 and 60,

- Countries with risk levels between 20 and 40 are considered safe for investment.

- Emerging markets typically have risk levels between 41 and 60.

- Countries with risk levels between 20 and 40 are considered safe for investment.

- Highlighted Libya

- Libya is essentially an uncharted market and the growth potential is huge.

- The people there have huge needs

- Libya is starting from a very low base,

- The opportunities are sizeable

It is no surprise that Libya attracted a relatively high score then in view of its oil and gas reserves – one of the highest in Africa - its oil and gas exports, its strong currency and its huge foreign currency reserves. Libya, according to IMF figures, is sitting on a huge surplus cash reserve of over US$ 160 billion. It has no debts so to speak of and is able to finance its huge development programmes purely from its own reserves.

Moreover, the report went on to highlight Libya particularly in view of its small population of 6.3 million relative to its GDP. It also highlighted Libya’s strong spending power noting that Libya ‘chalked up imports worth more than US$36 billion’ in 2009.

‘Libya is essentially an uncharted market and the growth potential is huge’, the report explained. ‘The people have huge needs and, starting from a very low base, the opportunities are sizeable, although the market is not that big’.

The report here is referring to the stunted growth Libya suffered during the decade of the international embargo and is highlighting the fact that demographic factors mean that Libya must embark on a huge infrastructure development programme.

This programme includes the massive housing plan, the railway project, the new Tripoli International Airport, Benghazi Airport, the Tripoli Third Ring Road, the ports improvement plan, the university re-building projects, the oil and gas projects etc. The Libyan government puts the budget for the development plan at over US$150 billion over the next few years.

Ironically, the report noted that ‘the key risk there is political, so operations in Libya need to be carefully crafted’. However, the fact is that Libya is the most stable country in North Africa. It has had internal political stability for the last 41 years.

Statistically, it scores as one of the safest and most stable states in the world. It has the least internal political strife, the least domestic friction, the least religious fundamentalism or sectarianism – when compared to Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia or Egypt.

Tripoli Post – 7/11/2025