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.

Vacancy with JLCC - Budget & Controlling

Are you firm in finance ?

Did you always want to have a job with an Austrian company in Libya ?

Then it´s time to apply with Joint Libyan Cement Company, majourity owned by the Austrian Asamer group.

On tour in Austria

Dear Readers,
I just realized that it has been nearly a month since my last blog entry.
No, I have not been on holiday, just touring Austria on a very intense tour. Every couple of days in another Austrian province, advising Austrian companies about the Libyan market. Entry strategies, possible partners, outstanding payments, etc.
The photo to the left shows Innsbruck, in the back you can see the ski jumping arena (Berg Isel), designed by Zaha Hadid.
Soon it is over, and I will be back to lovely Tripolis !
Thanks for your understanding !

Alltag in Tripolis während einer Veranstaltung

So ein Tag in Tripolis kann schon spannend sein !
Aber fangen wir einmal langsam an, denn eigentlich begann dieser Tag arbeitsmäßig mit einem Anruf eines ehemaligen österreichischen Expats der auf Besuchsreise war.  Um 8 Uhr sollte ohnehin bereits jeder arbeitsbereit sein. Nach dem Gespräch ins Auto gesetzt und Richtung Hotel Corinthia fahren um die Teilnehmer der Marktsondierungsreise einzuklauben und zum ersten Gruppentermin beim allmächtigen Housing & Infrastructure Board zu bringen.
Ein Kollege begleitet die Gruppe, somit habe ich Zeit kurz auf der Messe zu nachzusehen ob die 16 Aussteller irgendetwas benötigen. Der Aushilfsfahrer Ahmed(*) ruft um 9.30 an um mir mit Grabesstimme zu sagen, dass er nicht kommen kann. Er habe ganz vergessen, dass seine Frau heute aus Saudi (Arabien) ankommt. Naja, was solls. Alternative suchen, und weiter gehts. Im Büro einmal ein paar emails beantworten, nichts aussergwöhnliches heute:
- einer Firma wird vorgeworfen, daß sie Lebensmittel Qualitätsstandards nicht erfüllt
- eine Firma weiß nicht ob sie in Misrata einen Auftrag annehmen kann, denn man findet keine Versicherung,
- und eine andere möchte ab Samstag nach Libyen kommen um österreichisches Schnittholz zu verkaufen, man ersucht um Unterstützung bei der Terminvorbereitung
Schnell noch Teller, Besteck und Getränke ins Auto geladen, und den Fahrer zu mir nach Hause geschickt (Vorbereitung für das Abendessen) und um 13h mit hechelnder Zunge beim Planungsministerium auftauchen.
Welche Pläne es in Libyen gibt, hoffen wir vom Planungsministerium zu erfahren. Aber das wäre ja doch ein wenig viel verlangt. Es liege an uns Vorschläge zu machen ! 13.000 Altverträge gäbe es. Und schon bald werde man mit allem wieder beginnen.
Wir verlassen das Ministerium, der Bigli (Sandsturm) ist mittlerweilen wirklich stark geworden. Man sieht nur wenige hunderte Meter, man spürt den Sand auf der Haut.
Bis zum nächsten Termin ist es noch 1,5h, also gehen wir in ein Cafe um dort zu warten.
Austrian Airlines ist zwischenzeitlich wegen des Sandstrums in Malta gelandet. Vier Teilnehmer, die bereits frueher zurückfliegen mussten, wurden am Flughafen auf den nächsten Flieger (Alitalia) vertröstet.
Der Vizeminister empfängt uns, sagt uns aber auch bald, man solle nicht so schwierige Fragen stellen, wie zB wann es wieder losgehen werde. Man werde beginnen, wenn die Zeit dafür gekommen ist
Nach dem Meeting um 17.30 hetze ich nach Hause, denn um 19h kommen die Gäste.
Um 18.30 tröpfeln die ersten sms und Anrufe ein, die für den Abend absagen:

Ein kleines Gefecht eben bei dem Lokale mit Angehörigen des Supreme Security council (SSC) mit RPGs (Rocket Propelled Granates) und Kalashnikov ein Kräftemessen veranstalten.
Auch der Botschafter sitzt fest, der Herd ist nur wenige hundert Meter von der Residenz entfent, zum Zeitounkt des Anrufes befindet er sich in Deckung, denn die größeren Dinger schwirren ihm gerade um die Uhren. Aber da sich bald herausstellt, dass das ganze "only small problem" ist und "will be over very soon", tröpfeln dann die Gäste langsam herein. Es gibt selbst professionelle Security vor der Tür, hereingelassen wird nur, wer auch wirklich etwas hier verloren hat.
Um 19.30 rufen die vier Österreicher an, die am Flughafen vergeblich den ganzen Nachmittag auf irgendeinen Flieger gewartet haben. Jetzt ist es traurige Gewißheit, "rien ne va plus", der nächste Flieger kommt wegen des Sandsturms frühestens am nächsten Tag.
Also besorgt man eben in einem wegen der Baumesse ausgebuchten Hotel Corinthia noch schnell drei Zimmer, und schickt den Fahrer zum Flughafen um sie abzuholen.
Nachdem die letzten Gäste um 2.30 das Haus verlassen haben, konnte auch der Hausherr dem Zirpen der libyschen Grillen lauschen.

(*): Name geändert

Austrian presence at Libya Build

Libya Build is by far the most professinal fair of the country.It is a pitty it is limited to the construction industry.
Austria wanted to participate at this fair already in 2011 , but then a small revolution came in between. However, this year we managed to motivate 16 companies to come to Libya and exhibit their products in hope for future business. Already three days before the fair opened, our pavillion was ready. To the complete surprise of my colleagues from Vienna.
So there we are, at Libya Build 2013. Very nicely located in hall number one, just some meters away from the main entrance.
We even brought famous "Johann Strauss", the father of Austrian Waltz, with us. Some people stop and ask who the guy is. Some even wnt to know if we still met him (the answer is "no", we are all, even together, to young for that).
If you are interested beforehand which Austrian companies are present, please visit the online catalogue under http://www.advantageaustria.org/ly/events/libya_build_2013.en.html

Ahlan wa sahlan !

"Zintan is problem"

One of the rare times when I heard "mushkila" (problem) without the "mafish" (not) as a prefix, happened when I wanted to go from Wamis (Northwest of Mizdah) towards Zintan. According to my various maps there should be a road, and also the mountains of Zintan could easily be seen. But the people from Wamis (from the tribe of the Mashashias) told us various times "Zintan mushkila",  and explaining later on that they had just, a couple of days ago, exchanged some bullets, rockets and alike.
So it was not very wise to use the road from Wamis to Zintan, as the people from Zintan could take our car as belonging to Wamis. They would not hesitate shooting at it.
I believed the people from Wamis and thanked them for their friendly advise. Before leaving they still showed  us the highlight of their town, namely a collection of recent leftovers...

Excursion to Gharian

One can not really say  that the surrounding of Tripoli is boring. Totally the contrary. Just that fr many foreigners security restrictions hinder them to visit spots such as, for example, Gharian. The first town up in the mountains (Jebel Nafusa) offers astonishing views northwards, direction Tripoli, and sometimes when the sky is cool and clear, even up to the sea.
But also the "Friday Market" is well worth a visit. Very colourful, authentic and you can even by falcons.
well, at least this is what I thought. However, a friend when I showed him the picture, said it was rather a pigeon. But no doubt this is something wilder than a pigeon. And for 30 Libyan Dinars it could be yours.

Wadi ZemZem

 Quite hidden in the middle of nowhere (actually between Misrata and Beni Walid) lies the Wadi ZemZem. AIt is a wadi that had been cultivated since many centuries. One can see a lot of agricultural activity and also some activity that happened after the revolution:
It was here, that Saif Al-Islam and his convoy got hit by NATO when he tried to flee from Beni Walid. Thus it was also the place where he allegedly lost his fingers. If you look carefully while driving through the valley, you cannot miss the remainders of the convoy.

Mittagsjournal vom 7.Mai zur Lage in Libyen

Für meine deutschsprachige Leserschaft wieder etwas zur wirtschaftlichen Bildung:
Mittagsjournal Beitrag vom 7.Mai, mit einem Interview mit mir

Mittagsjournal vom 7.Mai

A Trip to Tunisia

Djerba: only 300 kms from Tripoli away, used to be a favourite weekend spot for foreigners in Tripoli. Driving time was somewhere between 3hrs (my personal record is 2:55) and 5hrs. Depending how traffic was and, more important, how long border control took you. Especially the latter has become a nightmare. My last trip dates back two weeks and was supposed to be a relaxing golf weekend.
First the positive news: On the libyan part of the road, many road checkpoints have disappeared, or have been converted into real military, police or customs checkpoints. Gone are the days were you were stopped by young guys with flip-flops, a t-shirt and a kalashnikov. Now all the guys are uniformed and look like they belonged to a government force.
However, arriving at the border, mayhem starts. On the libyan side, still everything ok, except for the fact that Tunisian cars line up for hundreds of meters. Arriving in the "noman´s land" only the stronger survives: a potpourri of trucks, drivers, passengers all try to get through a gate on the Tunisian side where only one car a time passes. Of course there are cars and trucks that try to get there from positions you would not have imagined a car could go there.
Oh, yes, it is funny to observe and listen to the officials on the Libyan side of the border, blaming the Tunisians for the big mess, and telling me that they are a weird type of nation, and hearing the same stuff about the Libyans on the other side of the border. I still try to figure out who is right.
After one has passed Tunisian customs and immigration control, the slow trip (due to heavy traffic) towards the island continues. If you are lucky, you reach, as I did, Djerba after six hours.

Morgenjournal im ORF Ö1

Ein Überraschungsanruf von Fabio Polly von der Auslandsredaktion vom ORF Radio, und schon landet man um 7.00 im Morgenjournal.
Verpasst ?
Kein Problem, die Radiothek macht es möglich:

http://oe1.orf.at/artikel/338939

Libya in My Heart

While some use their spare time to drive up and down Ghargharesh (preferably in a motorbike, if they can afford), others occupy ministries, some use their time to do something creative.
Like Abdurrauf Ben Madi, for example. I happened to discover his blog the other day, and found magnificient photos of daily live in Libya. Portraits and stories of ordinary Libyans and of those who suffer in one way or the other.
I am not a professional photographer, but Abdurrauf´s photos do tell a story, even without any description. And they are of a very high quality.
His blog "Libya in my heart" is definitely well worth a visit.
http://libyainmyheart.blogspot.co.at/

The Girza have the problem

Have you ever been to Ghirza ?
It is deep inside a valley, about 100 kms from Misrata. And it is not really the Hotspot of the region, but if you are keen on Roman and Byzantinic treasurs, this is the place you would like to visit. Some magnificient roman tombs have been well preserved due to the arid climate in that region. Not far away, a couple of Roman houses and fields offer an insight into life at that time. On the ground one can find remainders of pottery, bricks and probably many hiden treasures.
But what about the people living there now ?
Well, I met them, although looking at the town, it seems you are in a ghost town. Approximately 120 people live at the moment in Ghirza, in houses that were built in the 80ies by Gadaffi. Without electriyity and water. However, the Great Man Made River pipeline is not far away, so at least they found access to water. And electricity is produced througha generator. Every day between 6-10 PM it produces a bit of electricity that lets them feel in civilisation. But otherwise,
"The Girza have the problems",
as one of the elders tells me. No school for their kids, no money, no future. They say they feel miserable.
And they ask me to spread the word....

Misrata Port in action

Misrata is always worth a trip. For me it is always a good indicator how the Libyan economy is doing, as it is the biggest port of Libya. And its people have always been more progressive, independent and looking forward than the rest of Libya. This time I only went to the harbor, but already on the way there I could see the big changes that have taken place in Zliten, around 30 kilometers before Misrata. Now, don´t expect any miracles, but the town looks tidy, cleaned up and organized. And this impression does not change until you get to Misrata. No piles of trash lying around and also most remainders of the fighting which took place here, have been removed.
The harbor is working normally, cranes unloading cargo and putting it on trailers. Below you can see Austrian whitewood being unloaded, most likely arriving from the Slovenian port of Kopa (no, austria does not have its own port). If you want to see Austrian white wood by yourself, just watch out for the blue paint. This is the typical branding of Austrian producers. However, recently I discovered some wood from Slovenia also being painted blue and thus pretending it was Austrian.

In one area the port is even being renovated and some docks built in addition.
Congratulations, Misrata !