Tripoli Seeks Structural Fixes for Stalled Entrepreneurship

The Inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Assessment, spearheaded by Libya's Ministry of Planning and the International Labour Organization, highlights a systemic paradox: while ambition is high, the infrastructure to support growth remains underdeveloped. Currently, local business owners rely heavily on informal arrangements, which effectively bars those without existing assets or family connections from entering the market. This exclusion is particularly acute for women, youth, and internally displaced persons, who often lack the collateral or credit history required by traditional financial institutions.

Beyond the capital crunch, the ecosystem suffers from a lack of cohesion. Mentoring, technical training, and market assistance exist in silos, preventing entrepreneurs from accessing a logical pathway to scale. Experts suggest that rather than creating new bureaucratic layers, authorities should focus on integrating these services and shifting performance metrics from simple participation counts to tangible outcomes like business survival rates and job creation. Success will ultimately hinge on whether the final report translates into funded, measurable interventions rather than remaining a theoretical roadmap. The challenge lies in building a support system that connects education providers directly to market demand, ensuring that training programs produce viable business models rather than just certifications.