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LIBYA

Since January 2010

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Sub-pillar Screening of investment and acquisitions
Resolution No. 499-2010 Issuing the Executive Regulations of Law No. 9-2010 Regarding Investment Encouragement
According to Resolution No. 499 of 2010, permission to establish, develop, rehabilitate, manage or operate an investment project is issued by a decision from the Ministry of Economy and Trade (MET) based on the recommendation of the Privatization and Investment Board (PIB), which enjoys exclusive jurisdiction to issue licenses (Art. 6). After obtaining the approval, the investor applies for the investment register (Art. 20). It is reported that the PIB’s screening process for investors and criteria are not published or transparent. It is further reported that the PIB says it evaluates bids or proposals for their compatibility with Libya’s national security, sovereignty, and economic interests.
Coverage Horizontal

LIBYA

Since July 2012, last amended in December 2013

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Sub-pillar Screening of investment and acquisitions
Resolution No. 207-2012 on the Foreigners’ Participation and Foreign Companies’ Branches and Representative Offices in Libya
(قرار وزير الاقتصاد رقم (207) لسنة 2012م بشأن مساهمة الأجانب في الشركات وفروع ومكاتب تمثيل الشركات الأجنبية بليبيا)
According to Art. 7 of Resolution No. 207-2012 on the Foreigners’ Participation and Foreign Companies’ Branches and Representative Offices in Libya, for certain areas listed in Art. 9, branches of foreign-owned companies may open in Libya only if the Minister of Economy provides approval. Among activities listed under Art. 9, there are telecommunications-related activities, including installing and maintaining telecommunications systems and stations and establishing and maintaining stations, towers, and antennas for wireless communications and air navigation stations.
Coverage Certain telecommunications-related activities

LIBYA

Since January 2010

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Sub-pillar Screening of investment and acquisitions
Resolution No. 499-2010 Issuing the Executive Regulations of Law No. 9-2010 Regarding Investment Encouragement
According to Art. 5 of Resolution No. 499 of 2010, the minimum value of foreign capital, or in the case of participation with national capital in the investment project, is LYD 5 million (approx. USD 1 Million).
Coverage Horizontal

LIBYA

Since July 2012, last amended in December 2013

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Sub-pillar Screening of investment and acquisitions
Resolution No. 207-2012 on the Foreigners’ Participation and Foreign Companies’ Branches and Representative Offices in Libya
(قرار وزير الاقتصاد رقم (207) لسنة 2012م بشأن مساهمة الأجانب في الشركات وفروع ومكاتب تمثيل الشركات الأجنبية بليبيا)
Art. 5 of Resolution No. 207-2012, joint companies between Libyans and foreigners must fulfil all or part of the following listed requirements: (i) the transfer and introduction of expertise and know-how, modern technology, technical expertise or intellectual property rights; (ii) the employment of national workers according to the percentages specified in the legislation in force; (iii) the organisation of annual programs to train and qualify national workers in professions occupied by foreign workers; (iv) the establishment of annual programs to replace national workers with foreign workers and (v) the use of equipment, machines, raw materials and production requirements available in the local market.
Coverage Horizontal

LIBYA

Since January 2010

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Sub-pillar Screening of investment and acquisitions
Law No. 9-2010 on the Encouragement of Investment
Art. 7 of Law No. 9-2010 on the Encouragement of Investment, investment projects involving foreigners must fulfil all or part of the following listed requirements: (i) transferring and localizing knowledge, modern technology, technical expertise, or intellectual property rights; (ii) supporting links and integration between existing economic activities and projects, reducing production costs, or contributing to providing materials and operating requirements for them; (iii) exploiting or assisting in the exploitation of local raw materials; (iv) contributing to the development of remote areas; (v) producing goods for export or contributing to increasing exports, or as a result of which the import of goods is completely or partially dispensed with; (vi) providing a service needed by the national economy or contributing to its improvement, development or rehabilitation and (vii) providing employment opportunities for the Libyan workforce of no less than 30%, and working to train them and provide them with technical skills and expertise.
Coverage Horizontal
"SELECT DISTINCT(post_id) FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'score' AND\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'country' AND meta_value = 'LY')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAND (\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.1') OR\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.2') OR\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.3')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t)"
[{"post_id":"84763"},{"post_id":"84764"},{"post_id":"84765"}]
"SELECT meta_value FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'impact' AND\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'country' AND meta_value = 'LY')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAND (\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.1') OR\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.2')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t)"
"SELECT meta_value FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'score' AND\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'country' AND meta_value = 'LY')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAND (\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.3')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t)"
ITA: [{"meta_value":"1.00"}]

LIBYA

ITA signatory? I II

Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods  |  Sub-pillar Effective tariff rate on ICT goods (applied weighted average)
Effective tariff rate to ICT goods (applied weighted average)
3.48%
Coverage rate of zero-tariffs on ICT goods (%)
16.69%
Coverage: Digital goods

LIBYA

Since July 2012, last amended in December 2013

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Sub-pillar Commercial presence requirement for digital services providers
Resolution No. 207-2012 on the Foreigners’ Participation and Foreign Companies’ Branches and Representative Offices in Libya
(قرار وزير الاقتصاد رقم (207) لسنة 2012م بشأن مساهمة الأجانب في الشركات وفروع ومكاتب تمثيل الشركات الأجنبية بليبيا)
According to Art. 11 of Resolution No. 207 of 2012, entities operating in Libya are prohibited from contracting foreign companies to carry out work inside Libya unless these companies obtain permission from the Minister of Economy and establish a branch in Libya as stipulated in Art. 7. However, according to Art. 9, branches are only allowed for specific listed sectors and activities. Among the listed sectors is the communication sector (installation of control systems; manufacturing, preparing and maintaining their software).
Coverage Horizontal

LIBYA

Since October 2022

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Sub-pillar Commercial presence requirement for digital services providers
Law No. 6-2022 on Electronic Transactions
(قانون رقم 6 لسنة 2022م بشأن المعاملات الإلكترونية)
Art. 30 of Law 6-2022 on electronic transactions requires electronic certification service providers to be Libyan nationals residing in Libya and enjoying political rights, among other conditions, to obtain the needed license. Art. 1.20 defines "certification services provider" as any person accredited by the authority to issue electronic certificates or any related services or tasks or to issue electronic signature tools.
Coverage Electronic certification service providers

LIBYA

N/A

Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods  |  Sub-pillar Participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and 2015 expansion (ITA II)
Lack of participation in the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and in ITA Expansion Agreement (ITA II)
Libya is not a signatory of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) of 1996 and its 2015 expansion (ITA II). In fact, Libya is not a Member of the WTO.
Coverage ICT goods

LIBYA

Since January 2010, last amended in April 2023

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Sub-pillar Commercial presence requirement for digital services providers
Law No. 23-2010 regarding Commercial Activity
(قانون رقم 23 لسنة 2010 م بشأن النشاط التجاري)
According to Art. 1355 of Law No. 23-2010, it is not permissible to practice any commercial activity or conduct any business within Libya except after obtaining a license. This process includes obtaining a Commercial Register certificate, registering with the Chamber of Commerce and the tax and labour departments, and then obtaining a working license. It is reported that in May 2019, the government suspended the licenses of 40 foreign firms, including Alcatel-Lucent (owned by Nokia) and Microsoft, asking for their renewal.
Coverage Horizontal

LIBYA

Since April 2023

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Sub-pillar Exclusion from public procurement
Circular of the Minister of Economy and Trade No. 4-2023
(منشور وزير الاقتصاد والتجارة رقم 4 لسنة 2023 م)
Circular 4-2023 requests all public companies and government agencies funded from the general budget to commit to giving priority to supplies from the local market, especially those manufactured and produced locally when contracting for the procurement of materials and supplies they need.
Coverage Horizontal

LIBYA

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2023

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Sub-pillar Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Lack of transparency in public procurement
Corruption is reported to be one of the main obstacles preventing foreign companies or service providers from participating in government tenders.
Coverage Horizontal

LIBERIA

Since June 2002

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Sub-pillar Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Act amending the general business law, Title 14 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised, by adding thereto Chapter 13 to facilitate the use of electronic transactions for commercial and other purposes, and to provide for matters arising from and related to such use, approved 8 January 2002
The "Act amending the general business law, Title 14 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised, by adding to it Chapter 13 to facilitate the use of electronic transactions for commercial and other purposes, and to provide for matters arising from and related to such use, approved January 8, 2002" provides a comprehensive consumer protection framework that applies to online transactions.
Coverage Horizontal

LIBERIA

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Sub-pillar Ratification of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Lack of signature of the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Liberia has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.
Coverage Horizontal

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