Mohammed Abusneina, a professor of economics, stressed fiscal policy as a priority. “Among the very important issues that should be addressed by the unity government are the fiscal reforms and the application of fiscal rules, promoting economic growth and the full ownership of oil production and revenues by the central government. Also, the public spending should be countercyclical for the restoration and improvement of basic services”, he said.
Awad Ibrahim, an infrastructure and electricity sector expert, said the new government should work promptly to alleviate the suffering of the population.
“The Government of National Accord must consider the services delivery as an immediate priority - particularly electricity and water supplies - in order to improve the living conditions of the Libyan population, based on forward looking plans, and also to look into the legacy and reconstruction projects,” he said.
Azza O. Boghandora, a university professor, said investment in the future should also be in human resources. “The Libyan youth and women deserve better education and employment opportunities, in support of a longer term socio-economic transformation of the country,” she said.
Participants also stressed that Libyan national ownership is of paramount importance. They emphasized that ending the divisions in State institutions is key to Libya’s survival and sustainable future and expressed their firm conviction that only through a credible unity government can the country’s problems be tackled. They have reconfirmed the leading role of the United Nations in supporting Libya to coordinate the international assistance and encouraged efforts to enhance the national capacity to absorb the international assistance offered.
