Securing private sector investment to anchor peace in Libya, build resilience and power economic recovery was the main theme of a landmark three-day workshop in the capital Tripoli organized by the African Development Bank in close partnership with the Libyan Ministry of Finance.
Over three days, the Bank - Africa's leading development finance institution - and Libya's Finance Ministry brought together more than 80 government leaders, private sector actors, representatives of financial institutions and international partners for the event entitled "Investing for Peace and Progress: Unlocking Private Capital for a Resilient Libya."
Finance Minister Dr. Khaled Almabrouk Abdalla told the opening session the Libyan government strongly backed private sector-led growth.
"In our aspiring Libya, we firmly believe in the private sector's vital role in building a prosperous and stable future. Despite years of challenges, Libyan entrepreneurs have shown remarkable resilience," he said. "With the support of partners like the African Development Bank, we are working to unlock their full potential to contribute to our national recovery."
Malinne Blomberg, Deputy Director General for North Africa at the African Development Bank, described Libya's untapped assets, its strategic location, natural wealth, and human capital as "pillars of long-term growth".
"The private sector holds the key to job creation, innovation, and community trust," she said. "With the right tools and partnerships, we can help Libya turn its potential into progress."
The Bank is currently supporting Libya with in-depth diagnostics on private sector development and investment, identifying promising sectors such as renewable energy, agribusiness and ICT.
Yero Baldeh, Director of the Bank's Transition States Coordination Office, underscored the link between investment and stability: "At the African Development Bank, we don't see fragility as a label -- we see it as a call to action. Peace-positive finance isn't just about money -- it's about where that money goes: into youth-led start-ups, women-owned businesses, and communities rebuilding after conflict."
From Ideas to Action
The workshop went beyond speeches, with focused technical sessions aimed at shaping bankable projects in sectors like clean energy and agribusiness value chains. Participants worked across public and private lines to identify practical pathways to financing recovery--including blended finance, Islamic finance, and government-backed guarantees.
A key outcome was a draft Resilience Investment Roadmap, designed to guide priority actions and partnerships that will help grow Libya's private sector and accelerate its recovery.
The African Development Bank reaffirmed its commitment to staying the course with Libya, helping mobilize capital, build investor confidence, and scale local innovation.
