Ma´asalama Libya

One should move on when something is at its best.
For my feeling it is at its best.
Six years is a long time.
And a successor has arrived.
I will not elaborate on the last six years, you can read up at the least the post Gadiffi era on this blog.
The rest is history.
I want to thank all my readers for living with me through my Libya adventure. I will miss your comments and knowing the fact that approx. 200 unique visitors come on this page every day to see what´s new.
And of course I will miss Libya.
A looooooot......

As of Monday I will assume the position of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and managing director of Advantage Austria at our headquarter in Vienna, Austria.
Social Media will also be within my portfolio, hence I would be very pleased to read your remarks about my blog / twitter appearance.
Please let us know what liked / disliked, it will help us to come up with a worldwide strategy for our organisation.

Shukran

Speeding test track

I remember from my youth that on some Formula 1 circuits you can pay quite a sum of money in order to try to break you car´s speed limit.
Suwarah could be a tourist hotspot with a three lane speedway for 20 kilometers. No speed limit (or somethin glike that...), no police, no cars. The tarmac survived the last two years-no wonder, it was built by the Austrian construction company Strabag. Once you have a highway build by that company, you can leave it alone for at least twenty years.
Too bad that my car has a speed break at 120 km/h.

Richard Krebs ist zurück

Das ist Richard Krebs.
Nein, er ist nicht mein Nachfolger.
Das kommt noch.
Geduld.
Richard Krebs war bis 2010 für die österreichische Firma VAOS in Libyen, bevor er auszog um in Dubai ein richtiges Leben zu haben. Nicht mehr am Förderband am Flughafen darauf warten, dass das Gepäck vielleicht ganz woander rauskommt.
Oder nicht mehr auf der Stadtautobahn von Autos mit 180km/h überholt zu werden.
Nein, Richie wollte das Schlraffenland in dem Milch und Honig fliessen einmal so richtig auskosten.
Aber bereits nach zwei Jahren stellte er fest, dass die OMV zwar ein toller Arbeitgeber ist (nein, nein, die goldene Uhr hatte er bereits vor Dubai), aber sein Herz in Libyen geblieben ist.
Also wechselte er wieder zu seinem alten Arbeitgeber zurück um im Wüstenstaat wieder nach dem rechten zu sehen und die Ölförderung mit der VAOS auf Fordermann zu bringen.
Well Done !
Eine Institution ist zurück.  

Consumer products boom ongoing

Economic data for Libya suggests that the economy is not doing so bad.
For Austria, our exports for the first quarter 2013  suggests, that we will have a new record in our exports to Libya. Even higher than the previous peak in 2010. Interestingly, this time consumer products, tools and light machinery and pharmaceuticals dominate our exports. WIth consumer products one can observe new products on a weekly basis.
Tools and construction materials are needed to fulfill demand in the equally booming private construction sector. With so much money around, liquidity is being absorbed not by the banking systems (people do not trust banks) but by housing. Even though those houses remain empty after construction, the firm believe is, that there, money is safe. But for how long will this boom last ?
Well, only for few years....  

No Gelatina in front of our office

During the last weeks / months there had been some security reports in Tripoli and surrounding. Nothing to worry about "just small bombs" or "little gelatina" (gelatina is used by local fisherman to fish. it is just thrown into the sea, explodes, and what comes up to the  see is being collected).
So as you can see, nothing really to worry about. In case of the French Embassy there had been a miscalculation. Apparently.
However, we have taken additional measures. As of now on car bombers will find it even more difficult to put their car in front of your office.
Oh, by the way, our neighbours, the Tunisians had this measure since long ago. And the Tchadis are protected in a different manner...

Benzinknappheit die x..te

Und wie das Amen im Gebet (eigentlich das Alahu Akbar bei der Predigt) kommt auch wieder einmal eine kleine Treibstoffkrise auf. Diesmal (wie auch etliche male davor) war ein vor drei Tagen begonnener Streik in Zawiah dafür ausschlaggebend. Die Bevölkerung ist beunruhigt, dass das Bestreiken einer Raffinierie die Nachschubskette unterbricht und man dann wieder ohne Benzin dasteht. Alles schon gehabt. In extremis während der Revolution, als man sich über eine Woche anstellen musste um an Benzin zu kommen.
Ich nehme aber an, dass diesmal, wie die letzten mala auch, nach ein paar Tagen der SPuk vorbei ist.
Die ab August geplante Kürzung der Subventionen werden dann wahrscheinlich das ihrige dzau tun, dass weniger getankt wird.

Another Vacancy in Libya - Public Relation !

And here comes another vacancy with JLCC / Asamer, this time a PR and Public Relations specialist.