Welcome back to the Basit Igtet Libya blog. In the first part of this three-part blog post, we looked at Basit's vision for a new and better Libya. In this, the second part, Basit offers some further reflections on his 10 point action plan which points the way for the next five years. Basit's vision shows the clear direction which he thinks Libya should take...
Basit Igtet's 10 Point action plan
Dignity
1. Pride in our surroundings:
Two years after the revolution our streets and our communities are still a mess. The ruined buildings have not been cleared the rubbish has not been collected. We don’t need the world to help us fix this problem. We must mobilize our people and our communities to heal the physical scars.
2. Pride in our homes:
We have a young population who want to start families. Most do not have homes, and many of those who do, do not have water or electricity. We need to build new communities based on affordable housing, fine schools, medical facilities, and infrastructure. Communities that are living proof for our children that the sacrifices of the revolution were made to create a better home and a better life.
3. Pride in our work:
Unemployment is a nation’s cancer and we need to rebuild the country. This will require hundreds of thousands of jobs in construction, education, healthcare, engineering, and services. Most of these jobs should be done by Libyans. If they don’t have the skills we will invest in training and adult education. Saudi Arabia is proof that in a few years it is possible to create a world-class and world-scale infrastructure to train unemployed school leavers. The jobs are there, the people are there - we simply have to move heaven and earth to bring them together.
Security
4. Defend our people and resources:
Libya is a huge country with a small population and valuable resources says Basit Igtet. We must, however, defend what is most important and bring security to the major centres of population and our economic heartland. The reality today is that the government has limited power. The State cannot negotiate an acceptable peace for all of its people from a position of weakness. We do not want to go to war against our own people, but we have to impose security where we can and create the space to negotiate from a position of growing strength. We are not the first country to face this problem. We should have the confidence to draw on those individuals and institutions with relevant experience in countries where security has to be earned rather than granted.
Appeasement has not worked to date. What has worked in other countries is to secure areas of strategic importance. These secure areas allow government leaders and citizens to get on with their lives in peace for most of the time. These areas are a burden and can be both inconvenient and expensive. They are not ideal but they are necessary until such time when we can embrace all of our people into a unified security system. The day will come (P.B.U.H.)[please G-d] when the Militias understand that they will be better off defending the people of Libya rather than fighting them.
5. Engage our citizens and our neighbours in shaping lasting security:
The motives of the militia vary – many have legitimate concerns. Libya is a single nation made up of multiple identities. A generation of dictatorship from the centre has created fear of the concentration of power. We need to create a new [governance model/way to govern] and we need effective leadership of our cities. We are a nation steeped in a diversity of rich and colourful traditions and cultures. We must respect the different character and context of our Regions and value each individual and their potential contribution to building the new Libya. We also need to recognize the legitimate interests of our Arab, African and European neighbours in a stable and secure Libya. In order to do this, we will engage in a sustained and systematic dialogue with all parties, both national and international, interested in helping Libya achieve this vision.
6. Protect the Nation’s Financial Assets:
Libya has a strong balance sheet. We have saved hundreds of billions of dollars and have many investments around the world. These assets belong to the citizens of Libya. Many of the people’s assets have been stolen and misused. Basit Igtet suggests the need to return to Libya what is rightfully ours and we need to protect and manage what we have.
To protect our national wealth, we will reform the Libyan Investment Authority and the Central Bank. We need to create the appropriate laws, institute best practice governance, and attract and develop first-class skills to manage one of the world’s largest pools of Sovereign Wealth. We can look to the best examples in the world for inspiration, such as Norway, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait.
7. Management of our Natural Resources:
Libya is one of the major oil producers in the world and has substantial gas. Basit Igtet views that these gifts from God have to be used for the benefit of the people. Our management of these gifts must be for the benefit of all our people and therefore different from the past. Libya needs premier companies to help us become a role model for our region. We need to create a first-class regulatory environment, with transparent contracts and a commitment to creating opportunities for our citizens in exploration, development, and refining. A complete overhaul of the current model will be essential to attract the best the world has to offer with the experience and skills we need to make the best of our incredible gifts - our natural resources.
8. Invest in Education:
Libyans have achieved great success around the world at the highest levels, as doctors, lawyers, engineers, pilots, and scientists. Our duty is to transform the temporary gifts stored under the ground into helping nourish our permanent gifts above the ground – the children of Libya. To provide the best opportunities for the next generation we must improve and invest in our education system.
It is hard to say how good our education system really is because we have not been able to compare ourselves to others and to learn the lessons from our peers. What we do know is that most of our neighbours – Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and others – are all part of international organizations like TIMSS, that measure educational performance and help countries do better for their children. We should join them because if there is one thing we know, it is that we can do better, and the children of Libya deserve more.
9 Invest wisely in Infrastructure:
A generation of dictatorship followed by a destructive civil war has meant that we need to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure. The next decade will demand a detailed plan of a scale and intensity similar to that required to rebuild Europe and Japan coupled with the ambition of the UAE and China.
Libya has the wealth, space, and the need to create a new Libya. We do not have to settle for jammed roads, worn-out offices, poor infrastructure, power cuts, and water shortages. We need to attract global capital and world-class players. We need to create a reliable and accountable organization to make sure that the $100bn that the government will spend over the next 5 years will be invested wisely. Read more about Basit advocacy on the Basit Igtet Medium page here.
10. Stimulate Libyan Entrepreneurs:
Libya is one of the worst places in the world to do business. According to the World Bank Doing Business Index, Libya is rated number 187 out of 189 countries. Libya is at the very bottom in a number of crucial areas including dealing with construction permits and registering property.
The World Economic Forum Competitiveness report places Libya at 113 out of 144 countries one position behind Cameroon. In contrast, Morocco is ranked 70. Libya is one of the few countries which is not a member of the World Trade Organization, and unlike the majority of our neighbours, has not negotiated Free Trade Agreements with the EU, the USA or any other important trading partner. All of this is unacceptable and must change to enable the new Libya to emerge.
We know what we need to do. All the major international organizations have provided advice. Most recently the IFC in September said: “In the short term, creating access to finance for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises is an immediate area to work on.”
Libya’s future lies with the private sector. Many Libyans are businessmen and entrepreneurs. The government must create the environment and institutions to encourage the entrepreneur to take a risk and obtain the funds to invest behind good ideas.
This 10 point action plan points the way for the next five years. Basit's vision shows the clear direction he thinks Libya should take. "If I have the honor to lead this great nation I will do everything I can to work with all the people to ensure these targets are fulfilled, and fresh new energy takes control so that Libya can reach its potential and the people can have dignity, security, and prosperity."
Don't miss Basit Igtet's last chapter on his 10 point action key areas for Libya: security, defense, the energy sector, the banking system, and healthcare. He also proposes a “National Unity Fund” to ensure that all people are seen to share in our nation’s wealth. Check back soon for more updates!
About Basit Igtet
Basit Igtet is a Swiss-based entrepreneur and diplomat with extensive business experience and a strong track record of political action. A driven leader, he has made a name for himself as a man of action with an analytical mind, a passion for people, and an extensive network of influential global figures. Learn more about Basit on the Basit Iget About.me page. Alternatively, you can also connect with Basit on the Basit Igtet Linkedin page here.
