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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 has 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 - LD1.22:US$1 (2007 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$56.5 billion (2007 EIU estimate) - Real GDP growth - 5.8% (2007 EIU estimate) – Exports - US$36.1 billion (2007 EIU estimate) - Main exports – Petroleum – Imports - US$14.5 billion (2007 EIU estimate) - Current account balance - US$34.7 million (2007 EIU estimate) – Inflation - 6.3% (2007 EIU estimate) - Gross external debt - US$4.8 billion (2007 EIU estimate).
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ $28.3 million (for year ended December 2008) - Main Exports - Milk and cream (44%); butter (29%); cheese and curd(23%) - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ $79,754 (for year ended December 2008) - Main Imports - Wool (75%); transmission apparatus for broadcasting (25%) top of page
Trade with Libya is modest but stable, and comprised mainly of dairy products. In the year to December 2007 New Zealand exports to Libya were worth NZ$7.1 million. There were no imports from Libya to New Zealand last year, 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 Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Libya [external link].
