
CBL demands imports are conducted through official banking instruments and the elimination of the FX black market
Restricting imports through import licences – prerequisite payments through banks – no cash
In one letter, the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, Naji Issa, addresses the Minister of Economy and Trade regarding the resumption of the suspended decision on approving an import and export ruling, which prohibits the practice of import, export and re-export activity except through banking operations approved by the Central Bank of Libya.
Opening foreign currency accounts for FX Bureaux
The Central Bank of Libya instructed in another leaked letter commercial banks to open foreign exchange denominated accounts for recently CBL licenced foreign exchange bureaux and companies, and to replenish these accounts in foreign currency by the Central Bank of Libya and any other sources approved by it.
Eliminating the foreign currency black-market
In another letter, the CBL stressed the importance of eliminating the parallel (black) market for the transfer, sale and purchase of currency that have serious repercussions and damage on the Libyan economy.
CBL's recall of LD and LD 20 denominations
it will be recalled that last Sunday (29 June) the CBL had announced that during its recent recall of the old LD 50-dinar denominations (second series) printed by the eastern based authorities in Russia, it had discovered more than LD 3.5 billion in counterfeit notes. It said this constitutes serious damage to the national economy.
The bank explained that what was issued from the first issue in denomination of 50 dinars amounted to 7 billion dinars, while the amounts supplied to the Central Bank of Libya amounted to approximately 6.828 billion dinars.
Risk of money laundering and terrorist financing
The bank said that printing this denomination in large quantities outside its control negatively affected the value of the Libyan dinar, contributed to increasing the demand for foreign currencies at significant levels in the parallel / black market, and doubled the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing.
.
CBL reveals discovery of LD 3.5 billion in counterfeit 50-dinar notes printed in Russia – PM calls on Attorney General to open investigation

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Libya Herald
10 hours ago
- Libya Herald
International information received on suspicious activities passing through Libyan financial system: CBL
The Central Bank of Libya's (CBL) National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing issued the following statement today: ''We affirm that responding to the increasing challenges facing the financial system of the Libyan state represents a national responsibility that requires the concerted efforts of all concerned parties. It is necessary to adopt an integrated legislative and institutional framework in line with international standards, to ensure that Libya remains within the global financial system. - The receipt of international information regarding suspicious activities suspected of passing through the Libyan financial system, which reflects the fragility of the current system and exposes the State to the possibilities of international legal accountability. We call for the speedy adoption of the draft Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Law, as a key step towards meeting the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and enhancing confidence in the Libyan financial system. Any delay in this regard will expose Libya to serious risks to the reputation of the Libyan financial system and economic and livelihood stability. We call on all authorities, especially legislative, executive, judicial and supervisory authorities, as well as law enforcement agencies, to shoulder their responsibilities and take the necessary urgent measures to ensure the integrity of the financial system and the protection of the national economy.''


Libya Herald
a day ago
- Libya Herald
Minister of Economy discusses regulating priorities of market needs and import budget
The Tripoli based Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al-Hwej, held a meeting at the Ministry's Tripoli office today, in the presence of the advisory team and the Director of the Internal Trade Department, within the framework of following up on the mechanisms of regulating import operations through banking instruments, and preparing the import budget to ensure that the needs of the local market are met according to priorities. Small traders call for support with easier payment mechanism The meeting addressed the most prominent challenges facing companies and suppliers in completing import procedures through commercial banks, including difficulties related to the use of approved banking instruments. Several representatives of companies and traders also called for the Ministry's intervention at the Central Bank of Libya to facilitate procedures and support small traders, by activating electronic means of payment and organizing import operations to achieve competitive justice in the local market. Harmonizing monetary, financial and trade policies For his part, the Minister confirmed that the Ministry has developed an integrated vision to regulate the import budget, and that it is in the process of presenting this vision during an upcoming meeting that brings together the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, the Minister of Finance, the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), and the President of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture. This vision aims to harmonise monetary, financial and trade policies in a way that serves the national economy, strengthens the dinar, and helps the Central Bank in implementing its policies for economic reforms in line with the three financial, commercial and monetary policies. Analysis: Tension between the CBL and the Ministry – Achieving a balance It must be noted that there exists, and has existed for decades, a fundamental tension between the aims of the Central Bank of Libya and the Economy Ministry. Monetary control On the one hand, the Central Bank of Libya wishes to achieve monetary control, the reduction of the cash economy and inflation, and defending the foreign exchange value of the Libyan dinar through limiting imports to those transacted through banking instruments such Letters of Credit (LCs). LCs force importers to deposit their cash into their bank accounts. Smooth supply of goods to keep prices down On the other hand, the Economy Ministry aims to ensure the smooth flow of the import of goods to supply the market, including enabling the large number of small importers who operate largely using cash through the foreign exchange black-market. Typically, these smaller importers would react to short-term gaps in the market or offers of discounted goods abroad to strike fast deals. They would be traders who would buy goods in neighbouring Tunisia or Egypt and quickly transport them by road across the borders. Another important sub-category are fresh fruit and vegetables importers buying in cash from Egyptian or Tunisian farmers/middlemen who do not use the bureaucratic and slow banking system as a mode of receiving payment. Redistribution of wealth, helping SMEs, creating enterprise and jobs Moreover, the strata of cash-paying importers is usually made up of SMEs that the government does not have to find jobs for. They are an enterprising group of small businesses who create jobs. A complete clampdown on their activities would lead to other possible economic and social negative consequences. It would be seen as an attack on the poorer in favour of what is referred to in Libya as the ''fat cats'' that open LCs in the millions. The CBL policy has failed before The Central Bank of Libya seeks to stop imports that are not paid for through banking instruments in its fight against the black-market and its defence of the FX rate of the dinar. However, this policy has been attempted in the past – unsuccessfully. Such a complete shutdown had led to a shortage in the supply of goods, the hoarding of goods and sharp price rises. The price rises had resulted in political pressure on the government of the day and a relenting and reversal of the policy. There are fundamental flaws in Libya's monetary and financial system leading to distortions in the market and the economy. The independent-from-the-government Central Bank of Libya and the government must arrive at a workable compromise solution whereby goods arrive regularly and smoothly in the Libyan market while the negative effects of the FX black-market and inflation are negated, and the weak dinar is defended.


Libya Herald
a day ago
- Libya Herald
Minister of Economy discusses trade movement through Ras Jedir Libyan Tunisian land border
The Tripoli based Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al-Hwej, discussed the progress of trade movement through the Ras Jedir Libyan-Tunisian land border, during a meeting held yesterday at the Ministry's Tripoli office. The meeting was held in the presence of the Director General of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, the President of the Libyan Tunisian Chamber of Commerce, several of owners of Libyan industrial and commercial companies dealing with the private sector in Tunisia, and the Director of the Quality Department at the National Centre for Standardization and Standards. The meeting was dedicated to discussing the problems and obstacles facing Libyan companies in exporting local products to the Tunisian market, which have obtained a certificate of conformity to the approved standards, which allows the entry of Libyan goods into the Tunisian market under the agreement of recognition and ratification of the certificate of conformity in both countries. The Minister confirmed that the Ministry of Economy and Trade has concluded a number of trade agreements and memoranda of understanding with the Tunisian Ministry of Trade, under the auspices of the Libyan Prime Minister, within the framework of supporting economic cooperation and trade exchange between the two countries. He also directed the competent departments of the Ministry and the Libyan Tunisian Joint Chamber of Commerce to organize a meeting with the Tunisian side and the relevant Libyan institutions and centers. The meeting is to seek to solve the problems and obstacles facing the trade movement between the two countries, and to follow up on the implementation of the demands of the owners of the companies regarding the technical and control procedures in coordination with the competent authorities in the Libyan state.