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Since Libya formally renounced terrorism and closed its weapons of mass destruction programme in 2003, its international standing has enjoyed a revival and it has emerged from a prolonged period of international isolation. While neither New Zealand nor Libya is formally accredited to the other, Libya’s new diplomatic presence in Canberra and New Zealand’s new embassy in Cairo have increased working level relations between the two countries.
The most recent high-level visit either way was undertaken in January 2008 by Trade Minister, Hon Phil Goff. The purpose of the visit was to renew and expand the trade, economic and wider bilateral relationship. There have been no ministerial visits from Libya to New Zealand in recent times.top of page
Land Area - 1,759,540 sq km
Population - 6.2 million (2007 EIU estimate)
Capital City - Tripoli
Religion - Islam
Official Language - Arabic
Currency - Libyan dinar (LD) = 1000 dirham
Exchange rate - LD1.224:US$1 (2008 actual)
Political system - Jamahiriya (republic of the masses)
National government - Twenty-six municipal councils which make up the General People’s Congress. Centralised control is maintained in the areas of defence and security, energy, infrastructure, foreign affairs, social security and trade
National legislature - The General People’s Congress, delegates to which are chosen by the Basic People’s Congress
Head of State - Colonel Muammar Qadhafi, appointed supreme leader by the General People’s Congress in March 1990 after taking power in a coup in 1969
Head of Government - Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmudi
Key Ministers:
Deputy Prime Minister: Mubarak al-Shamikh
Economy and Foreign Trade: Ali Abdel-Aziz Isaw
Finance: Mohammed Ali al-Huwaij
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation: Mohammed Abderrahman Shalgham
Main political parties - No political parties exist.
GDP - US$67.7 billion (2008 EIU estimate)
Real GDP growth - 5.9% (2008 EIU estimate)
Exports - US$64.5 billion (2008 EIU estimate)
Main exports – Petroleum
Imports - US$26.6 billion (2008 EIU estimate)
Current account balance - US$37.4 billion (2008 EIU estimate)
Inflation - 10.4% (2008 EIU estimate)
Gross external debt - US$6.2 billion (2008 EIU estimate).
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ $29.7 million (for year ended June 2009)
Main Exports - Dairy (NZ $27 million); meat (NZ$1 million); machinery (NZ $0.6 million)
NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ $0 (for year ended June 2009) top of page
Trade with Libya is modest but stable, and comprised mainly of dairy products. In the year to June 2009, New Zealand exports to Libya were worth NZ$29.7million. There were no imports from Libya to New Zealand in the same period, although the level can vary considerably year to year depending on the flow of oil from Libya into New Zealand (for example: we imported oil to the value of $46 million in 2005 to almost nothing in 2007).
As Libya’s economy develops, opportunities for New Zealand exporters continue to emerge. Trade Minister Hon Phil Goff’s visit to Libya at the beginning of 2008 showed that there are good market opportunities for New Zealand, notably in education, agricultural technology, ICT, and medical goods and services.
Libya recently re-established a resident diplomatic presence in Canberra - the Libyan People’s Bureau. It is not formally accredited to New Zealand. New Zealand is not formally accredited to Libya either, but our embassy in Cairo, Egypt is informally covering the relationship.
The Safe Travel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Libya [external link].
