The Chairperson of the National Committee for Sustainable Development in the House of Representatives, Mrs. Rabia Abu Ras, emphasized the need to find alternative economic resources to oil and gas, considering the crises and fluctuations in production that negatively affect its effective contribution to covering the country’s financial needs.

She also affirmed that alternatives exist in Libya, notably the marine resources due to Libya’s long coastline on the Mediterranean Sea, which offers promising opportunities in tourism, fishing, food industry, and maritime transport. There should be a national focus on enhancing industries related to the sea.

She stressed the importance of investing in the green economy, aiming to reduce environmental risks and achieve sustainable development without leading to environmental degradation, as it meets the goals of sustainable development and the Libyan citizen’s need for a safe environment.

Mrs. Rabia Abu Ras added that successful experiences in other countries can be utilized, and local and international institutions can play a significant role in transferring the required expertise. She called for the formation of a national forum to discuss the development and enhancement of the Libyan economy in line with the goals of sustainable development, taking into account the focus on the blue and green economy. The forum should include all active parties, including researchers, academics, regulatory bodies, the National Planning Council, chambers of commerce, businessmen, and civil society, with the participation of international expertise and entities willing to collaborate. She emphasized the importance of launching the forum soon due to the challenges facing the Libyan economy, which require sustainable solutions, and that this issue should be addressed at the national level and given the priority it deserves.