Tripoli: The President of the High Council of State, Mohamed Takala, met today with the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, Naji Issa, to discuss a number of financial, monetary, and economic issues. The meeting took place at the Council's headquarters in Tripoli and was attended by First Deputy Naji Mukhtar, Second Deputy Omar Boushah, Council Rapporteur Belqasim Dabrez, and the heads of the Council's standing committees.
According to Libyan News Agency, at the beginning of the meeting, Council members expressed their rejection of the Central Bank Governor's resignation and emphasized their desire for him to continue his service. During the meeting, Issa presented the main financial and monetary indicators and challenges, along with issues related to public resource management, spending, liquidity, and the exchange rate, highlighting the impact of these factors on economic stability and citizens' living conditions.
The attendees highlighted the need for the Central Bank of Libya to operate smoothly while maintaining its professional and institutional independence. They stressed the importance of keeping the institution free from interference or pressures that could affect the stability of monetary policy.
In addition, the importance of harmonizing fiscal and economic policies was emphasized, along with rationalizing public spending, closing loopholes for waste and corruption, protecting public funds and state resources, and promoting transparency and accountability principles.
The attendees also discussed forming a joint technical committee between the State Council and the House of Representatives. This committee, in coordination with the Central Bank of Libya and relevant entities, would develop a comprehensive package of economic and financial reforms and monitor their implementation to address existing imbalances based on scientific and institutional foundations.
The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing that overcoming the economic crisis requires responsible and courageous decisions. They stressed the need to support competent individuals and institutions undertaking reform tasks and to prioritize the national interest over partisan interests to preserve Libya's resources, enhance stability, and bolster confidence in the Libyan economy both domestically and internationally.